- The Justice Department filed two denaturalization lawsuits against naturalized citizens in Arizona.
- The complaints allege passport fraud, a false U.S. birth claim, and misrepresentations about a spouse’s identity and citizenship.
- A federal judge must decide whether the legal grounds are met; filing a case does not automatically revoke citizenship.
The Justice Department filed denaturalization lawsuits against two naturalized U.S. citizens in Arizona, accusing them of fraud involving passports and immigration benefits. The cases are before the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
The filings form part of a nationwide effort targeting 40 people. The Arizona complaints were filed on September 18, 2026, and September 30, 2026.
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The allegations differ. One case centers on a false claim of U.S. birth and a forged document; the other accuses a woman of repeatedly misrepresenting her husband’s identity and citizenship.
The complaints do not themselves cancel citizenship. A federal court must decide whether the government has met the legal standard.
The Arizona complaints describe separate alleged fraud histories
The department alleges that Gilberto Barraza, 58, entered the United States unlawfully from Mexico in 1987. It says he claimed U.S. birth when applying for a passport in 1992 and submitted a forged California birth certificate.
Barraza later gained lawful permanent residence through marriage to a U.S. citizen, then naturalized in 2008. The complaint alleges he concealed the passport fraud and made material misrepresentations during the immigration and naturalization process.
In the second case, the department accuses Gracia de Rodriguez, 52, of repeatedly misrepresenting her spouse’s identity and citizenship for approximately 20 years. It alleges she presented him as a U.S. citizen to obtain immigration benefits, naturalization and a U.S. passport.
The department also says de Rodriguez pleaded guilty to passport fraud in the District of Arizona in June 2019. That plea is part of the government’s account in its complaint.
A court must find the statutory grounds before citizenship changes
The government is relying on provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allow denaturalization if citizenship was illegally procured or obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.
A filing is only the start. Denaturalization is a civil federal court proceeding, and the court must determine whether the statutory requirements are met before citizenship can be revoked.
If a court orders denaturalization, the person may become subject to removal proceedings. The outcome can depend on the person’s underlying immigration history and any available defenses or relief.
The cases concern naturalized citizens, not people who acquired citizenship by birth. Birthright citizenship generally cannot be revoked through the denaturalization process described in these cases.
The filings fall within a six-week national push
Attorney General Todd Blanche described the 40 cases filed between August 21 and October 2, 2026, as the Trump administration’s “largest denaturalization effort in modern history.” The department’s announcement identifies allegations across the nationwide cases including immigration fraud, concealed criminal conduct, passport fraud, foreign-agent activity and other serious offenses.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
