Key Takeaways
• In 2025, DOJ prioritizes denaturalization in cases of national security, serious crimes, and fraud under Trump administration.
• Denaturalization revokes citizenship for naturalized citizens with fraud, concealed facts, or threats proven by clear evidence.
• Denaturalized individuals return to prior immigration status; cases involve federal court with right to defense.
The Department of Justice’s Denaturalization Efforts: What naturalized citizens Need to Know
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently made denaturalization—revoking U.S. citizenship from naturalized citizens—a top priority. This shift, especially under the Trump administration in 2025, has led to new policies, more resources, and a greater focus on cases involving national security, serious crimes, and fraud. For many immigrants and their families, these changes raise important questions about their rights, the risks they face, and what denaturalization really means.
This guide explains what denaturalization is, who may be affected, how the process works, and what the latest policy changes mean for naturalized citizens and immigrant communities. It also looks at the practical effects, legal protections, and the different views on this growing area of immigration enforcement.
What Is Denaturalization?
Denaturalization is the legal process of taking away U.S. citizenship from someone who became a citizen through naturalization. This does not apply to people born in the United States 🇺🇸, but only to those who gained citizenship later in life. The Department of Justice has the power to start denaturalization proceedings if it believes someone got their citizenship by lying, hiding important facts, or if they are found to be a threat to national security or public safety.
Denaturalization is rare compared to the total number of naturalized citizens, but the number of cases has grown in 2025 as the DOJ has made it a higher priority.
Why Is the DOJ Focusing on Denaturalization?
In June 2025, the DOJ’s Civil Division released a memo listing denaturalization as one of its top five enforcement priorities. The Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) is leading these efforts, with a special focus on cases involving:
- National security threats (such as terrorism or espionage)
- War crimes and human rights violations
- Serious felonies (like human trafficking, sex offenses, or violent crimes)
- Ongoing public safety risks
- Extraordinary harm (cases involving large criminal enterprises or major financial or physical harm)
The DOJ is not targeting minor or technical violations. Instead, it is looking for cases where the person’s actions are serious, ongoing, or pose a clear threat to the United States 🇺🇸 or its people.
Legal Grounds for Denaturalization
The main law that allows the government to take away citizenship is 8 U.S.C. § 1451(a). This law says that citizenship can be revoked if it was “illegally procured” or obtained by “concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.” In simple terms, this means that if someone lied or hid something important when they applied for citizenship, or if they were never really eligible in the first place, the government can try to take their citizenship away.
The government must prove its case in federal court. The standard is very high: the evidence must be clear, convincing, and leave no serious doubt. This is to protect people from losing their citizenship unfairly.
How Does the Denaturalization Process Work?
The process for denaturalization is strict and involves several steps:
- Investigation: Federal authorities look into citizenship applications to find possible fraud, lies, or hidden criminal activity.
- Referral: If there is enough evidence, the case is sent to the DOJ’s Denaturalization Section.
- Filing: The DOJ files a civil complaint in federal court, explaining why it believes the person’s citizenship should be revoked.
- Court Proceedings: The person has the right to defend themselves in court. However, there is no right to a government-paid lawyer, so they must hire their own attorney or represent themselves.
- Outcome: If the court agrees with the government, citizenship is taken away. The person then goes back to their previous immigration status (for example, lawful permanent resident). If they have no other legal status, they may face removal (deportation) from the United States 🇺🇸.
For more details on the legal process and the forms involved, you can visit the DOJ Office of Immigration Litigation website.
Recent Policy Changes and Announcements
The Trump administration has directed the DOJ to put more resources into denaturalization, especially for cases involving national security, public safety, and serious crimes. This means more staff, more funding, and a higher number of cases being reviewed and prosecuted.
- Expanded Enforcement: The DOJ is now looking at more cases and acting faster on those that meet its new priorities.
- Resource Allocation: Staff and money have been moved to support the growing number of denaturalization cases.
- Executive Orders: New executive orders have told the DOJ to protect the United States 🇺🇸 from criminal aliens and make sure only eligible people keep their citizenship and public benefits.
A recent example shows how these changes are working in practice. On June 13, 2025, a federal judge ordered the revocation of citizenship for someone convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material. This case shows the DOJ’s focus on serious criminal conduct.
Who Is Most at Risk?
The DOJ’s current priorities mean that the following groups are most likely to face denaturalization proceedings:
- People with ties to terrorism, espionage, or illegal export of sensitive technology
- Those involved in war crimes or serious human rights abuses
- Individuals who committed major felonies and hid them during the naturalization process
- People whose actions show a continuing risk to public safety or vulnerable groups
- Those involved in large criminal enterprises or who caused major harm
It is important to note that the DOJ is not going after people for small mistakes or minor issues on their applications. The focus is on serious wrongdoing.
Legal Protections for Naturalized Citizens
Even with the DOJ’s new focus, there are strong legal protections in place for naturalized citizens:
- High Burden of Proof: The government must prove its case with clear and convincing evidence.
- Material Misrepresentation: Only lies or omissions that are important to the decision to grant citizenship can be used as grounds for denaturalization. This was confirmed by the Supreme Court in the 2017 case Maslenjak v. United States.
- Due Process: All denaturalization cases go through federal court, and the person has the right to defend themselves.
If citizenship is revoked, the person does not automatically become undocumented. They return to their previous immigration status, if they had one. If not, they may face removal, but they still have the right to challenge this in immigration court.
Practical Implications and Community Impact
The DOJ’s increased focus on denaturalization has several important effects:
- For Naturalized Citizens: There is more scrutiny of past applications, especially for those with criminal histories or suspected fraud. This can cause anxiety and mistrust in immigrant communities.
- For New Applicants: Some eligible immigrants may be afraid to apply for citizenship, worried that small mistakes could lead to denaturalization later.
- For the Immigration System: The focus on denaturalization may take resources away from processing new citizenship applications, leading to longer wait times and bigger backlogs.
- For Families: Losing citizenship can have serious consequences for families, including the risk of separation if a parent or spouse is removed from the country.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these changes have led to a noticeable increase in denaturalization cases, especially in the categories the DOJ has prioritized.
Different Perspectives on Denaturalization
There are many views on the DOJ’s denaturalization efforts:
- Government View: The DOJ and the Trump administration see denaturalization as a necessary tool to protect national security and make sure the naturalization process is fair and honest.
- Immigrant Advocates: Many advocates worry about due process, the risk of overreach, and the chilling effect on people who might otherwise apply for citizenship.
- Legal Experts: Most experts agree that denaturalization is rare and the legal standards are high, but they warn that the process could become politicized if not carefully managed.
Recent data shows that while denaturalization is still uncommon, the number of cases has grown in 2025, especially in the areas the DOJ is targeting.
What Happens After Denaturalization?
If someone loses their citizenship, they return to the immigration status they had before becoming a citizen. This could be lawful permanent resident (green card holder), refugee, or another status. If they have no legal status, they may face removal from the United States 🇺🇸.
It is important to understand that denaturalization does not automatically mean deportation. The person still has the right to challenge removal in immigration court and may be able to apply for other forms of relief.
For more information on citizenship rights and responsibilities, visit the USCIS Citizenship Resources page.
Recent and Ongoing Changes
The DOJ’s guidance on denaturalization is under review as of April 2025, with more updates expected later in the year. Congress may also consider new laws to clarify or limit the grounds for denaturalization, but no major changes have been made yet.
The Trump administration is expected to keep or even expand denaturalization efforts as part of its broader immigration enforcement plan through 2025 and beyond.
Key Stakeholders and Officials
Several groups and officials play important roles in denaturalization:
- DOJ Civil Division: Leads denaturalization cases and sets policy.
- Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL): Chooses which cases to prosecute and handles the legal work.
- Attorney General: Sets overall priorities and decides how resources are used.
- Federal Courts: Make the final decision in each case and make sure the process is fair.
Real-World Example
A recent case from June 2025 shows how the DOJ is using its new powers. A federal judge revoked the citizenship of a person convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material. This case was chosen because it involved a serious crime and ongoing risk to public safety, matching the DOJ’s new priorities.
What Should Naturalized Citizens Do?
If you are a naturalized citizen, here are some practical steps you can take:
- Keep Records: Save copies of your naturalization application and any supporting documents.
- Be Honest: If you are applying for citizenship, answer all questions truthfully and completely.
- Seek Legal Help: If you are contacted by the DOJ or receive notice of a denaturalization case, talk to an experienced immigration attorney right away.
- Know Your Rights: Remember that the government must prove its case in court, and you have the right to defend yourself.
If you have questions about denaturalization policy or a specific case, you can contact the DOJ Office of Immigration Litigation or check their press releases for the latest updates.
Looking Ahead
Denaturalization is a serious and complex area of immigration law. The Department of Justice’s new focus means more cases, more resources, and more attention on naturalized citizens who may have obtained citizenship through fraud or who pose a threat to the United States 🇺🇸. While the process is legally rigorous and the standards are high, the practical effects are being felt in immigrant communities across the country.
As policy continues to change, it is important for naturalized citizens and their families to stay informed, know their rights, and seek help if needed. The future may bring more updates from the DOJ and possible new laws from Congress, but for now, denaturalization remains a rare but growing part of the U.S. immigration system.
Key Takeaways:
- The DOJ, under the Trump administration, has made denaturalization a top priority for cases involving national security, serious crimes, and fraud.
- The process is legally strict, with strong protections for naturalized citizens, but the number of cases is increasing.
- Naturalized citizens should keep good records, be honest in all immigration matters, and seek legal help if contacted about denaturalization.
- Ongoing policy changes and possible new laws may affect how denaturalization is handled in the future.
For more information on citizenship and denaturalization, visit the USCIS Citizenship Resources page or consult the DOJ’s official announcements.
By staying informed and prepared, naturalized citizens can better protect their rights and understand the changing landscape of U.S. immigration enforcement.
Learn Today
Denaturalization → Legal process revoking citizenship of naturalized persons due to fraud or threats to national security.
8 U.S.C. § 1451(a) → Federal law authorizing citizenship revocation for illegal procurement or willful misrepresentation.
Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) → DOJ division prosecuting denaturalization cases and managing legal enforcement strategies.
Naturalization → Process by which an immigrant legally becomes a U.S. citizen after meeting requirements.
Clear and Convincing Evidence → Legal standard requiring strong, persuasive proof in denaturalization court cases.
This Article in a Nutshell
The DOJ’s 2025 focus on denaturalization targets serious crimes and fraud among naturalized citizens. This process requires strong evidence, involves federal courts, and aims to protect national security. Naturalized citizens must keep records, be truthful, and seek legal help to defend rights amid increasing enforcement efforts and policy changes.
— By VisaVerge.com
