The U.S. government is significantly increasing efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalised Americans, following directives from President Donald Trump and Attorney General Bondi. As part of a broader initiative to align immigration enforcement with administrative policy goals, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has identified denaturalisation as a key area of focus.
A recent DOJ memorandum instructs Civil Division employees to prioritise investigations and enforcement actions aimed at revoking citizenship obtained through unlawful means. The memo specifically emphasises action against individuals who either illegally procured naturalisation or deliberately concealed material facts during the naturalisation process.
What Is Denaturalisation?
Denaturalisation refers to the legal process by which the U.S. government revokes citizenship previously granted to an individual through naturalisation. According to DOJ guidelines, an individual may be subject to denaturalisation if:
They obtained citizenship through illegal or fraudulent means, or
They willfully misrepresented or failed to disclose material facts during their application or subsequent examination.
Understanding Naturalised Citizens
Naturalised citizens are individuals born outside the United States who later acquire U.S. citizenship through a formal legal process. The typical path to naturalisation includes:
Becoming a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder),
Residing continuously in the U.S. for at least five years,
Demonstrating good moral character,
Passing English language and U.S. civics exams, and
Taking the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
Once naturalised, individuals gain nearly all the rights afforded to native-born citizens, including the right to vote and obtain a U.S. passport. However, their citizenship remains subject to revocation if found to have been acquired fraudulently.
Policy Objectives and National Security
The DOJ’s increased focus on denaturalisation aligns with broader national security and immigration integrity goals. In addition to targeting fraudulent naturalisation cases, the DOJ may pursue denaturalisation against individuals with serious criminal histories or those deemed to pose a continued threat to public safety or national security.
As stated in the DOJ memo, this initiative is designed to preserve the integrity of the naturalisation process by ensuring that citizenship is not retained by individuals who obtained it unlawfully. Civil Division staff are now authorised to initiate proceedings to revoke such citizenship where sufficient legal grounds exist.
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