DOJ Plans Major Increase in Denaturalization Cases
The Trump administration is preparing a significant expansion of efforts to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized Americans, with the Department of Justice aiming to file at least 250 denaturalization cases by October, according to a senior department official cited by CNN.
The move marks a sharp increase in the use of a legal process that has historically been rare and typically reserved for cases involving fraud, national security concerns, war crimes, or serious criminal conduct.
DOJ Mobilizes for Case Surge
Federal authorities have already filed 29 denaturalization cases in less than two months this year, a pace that far exceeds historical norms.
Data from Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) shows that only 166 denaturalization complaints were filed between 2008 and June 2026, averaging fewer than 10 cases annually.
To support the expanded initiative, the Justice Department has reassigned civil litigators from other divisions, including attorneys who previously handled fraud investigations. A specialized team dedicated to denaturalization cases is reportedly working through existing referrals while receiving new cases from the Department of Homeland Security.
Officials expect U.S. attorneys’ offices nationwide to play a larger role in the effort, potentially bringing hundreds of additional cases beyond those filed directly by the Justice Department.
Who Is Being Targeted?
The administration’s strategy follows a June 2025 memorandum issued by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate outlining categories of cases considered priorities for denaturalization proceedings.
Those categories include individuals accused of concealing criminal histories, committing immigration fraud, posing national security threats, participating in war crimes, or failing to disclose serious offenses during the citizenship application process.
Administration officials have maintained that the initiative is focused on people who allegedly obtained citizenship through fraud or material misrepresentation rather than lawful naturalized citizens.
What the Law Allows
Denaturalization applies only to people who became U.S. citizens through the naturalization process and cannot be used against individuals who acquired citizenship by birth in the United States.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, nearly 8 million immigrants became naturalized citizens over the past decade.
Revoking citizenship requires a federal court proceeding and remains one of the government’s most serious immigration-related actions.
Legal Alarm Bells Ring
The increase in filings has drawn attention from legal experts and immigration advocates, who have raised concerns about due process protections in civil denaturalization cases.
Unlike criminal defendants, individuals facing civil denaturalization proceedings are generally not entitled to government-funded legal representation, creating concerns about access to counsel as case numbers rise.
The administration argues that the process remains subject to judicial oversight and is intended to address cases involving fraud, deception, or other significant misconduct during the path to citizenship.
Historic Citizenship Crackdown
The planned expansion would represent one of the most aggressive denaturalization efforts in recent decades.
According to DOJ figures cited by CNN, the Biden administration filed 24 denaturalization cases during its four years in office. The current administration has already surpassed that number in 2026 alone and is on track to dramatically increase filings if it reaches its October target.
The initiative comes as immigration enforcement remains a central focus of the administration’s broader policy agenda, with officials signaling continued efforts to identify and pursue cases involving alleged citizenship fraud.
