The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a significant expansion of denaturalization efforts, seeking to revoke U.S. citizenship from foreign-born Americans who committed fraud during the naturalization process. According to a recent directive, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been instructed to provide the Office of Immigration Litigation with between 100 and 200 denaturalization cases per month by 2026—a dramatic increase from historical levels.
Denaturalization has long been an uncommon legal action. Fewer than 200 cases were filed over the past eight years, and between 1990 and 2017, the federal government averaged roughly 11 cases annually, according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. The new targets would represent a sharp escalation as part of President Donald J. Trump’s broader immigration enforcement agenda.
Matthew Tragesser, a USCIS spokesman, defended the initiative, stating: “We will pursue denaturalization proceedings for those individuals lying or misrepresenting themselves during the naturalization process. We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Justice to restore integrity to America’s immigration system.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued guidance directing attorneys to prioritize denaturalization cases involving alleged national security threats, serious criminal conduct, or material misrepresentations during the citizenship process. Pro-migrant organizations have raised concerns that the broad criteria could expand enforcement beyond traditionally narrow fraud cases.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that approximately 26 million people in the United States are naturalized citizens, with about 800,000 gaining citizenship in the past year alone. The push aligns with other recent actions by the Trump administration aimed at tightening access to citizenship, including moves to deny visas to foreign nationals suspected of exploiting birthright citizenship laws and strengthening screening protocols.
In addition, President Trump has ordered changes to make the U.S. citizenship test more rigorous, emphasizing civic knowledge and English proficiency.
