July 1, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a renewed push to prioritize denaturalization cases, directing its attorneys to aggressively pursue the revocation of citizenship for naturalized Americans who have committed certain crimes.
This move, outlined in a June 2025 memo, marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, sparking debate over its legal and ethical implications.
Critics argue it undermines due process, while supporters claim it strengthens national security.
Denaturalization, the process of revoking U.S. citizenship from naturalized citizens, has historically been reserved for rare and extreme cases, such as those involving war criminals, Nazis, or individuals who lied about serious crimes during the naturalization process.
The tactic saw heavy use during the McCarthy era in the late 1940s and early 1950s, was expanded under the Obama administration, and grew further during President Trump’s first term.
According to a June 2025 DOJ memo, the agency is now prioritizing denaturalization as one of its top five enforcement goals for the civil division, focusing on cases involving fraud, misrepresentation, or specific criminal offenses.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate emphasized in the memo that the DOJ will “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.”
The directive targets naturalized citizens involved in crimes such as financial or medical fraud, war crimes, or extrajudicial killings, as well as cases referred by U.S. attorneys or linked to pending criminal charges.
Recent Case Highlights Policy ShiftA notable example of this policy in action is the denaturalization of Elliott Duke, a U.S. military veteran originally from the United Kingdom.
On June 13, 2025, a judge ordered the revocation of Duke’s citizenship after they were convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material, a crime Duke admitted to committing prior to naturalization.
This case underscores the administration’s focus on leveraging past criminal activity to justify denaturalization, even for individuals with deep ties to the U.S.
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Legal and Constitutional Concerns
The DOJ’s approach, which relies heavily on civil litigation, has raised alarms among immigration law experts.
Cassandra Robertson, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, notes that civil proceedings do not guarantee the right to an attorney, unlike criminal cases, and require a lower burden of proof.
This structure, she argues, risks violating due process and the protections enshrined in the 14th Amendment.
“Stripping Americans of citizenship through civil litigation infringes on fundamental rights,” Robertson said.
The Supreme Court has historically limited denaturalization to cases involving fraud or willful misrepresentation, as established in a 1967 ruling.
From 1990 to 2017, the U.S. targeted an average of 11 naturalized citizens per year for denaturalization, primarily those with war crime convictions.
However, during Trump’s first term, the number of cases increased significantly, a trend that appears to be continuing.
The denaturalization push is part of a broader Trump administration effort to overhaul the U.S. immigration system.
Since taking office in 2025, President Trump has sought to end birthright citizenship, scale back refugee programs, and expand deportation efforts, including targeting workplaces and agricultural sectors.
The administration has also attempted to access state-held data to bolster immigration enforcement, a move critics argue violates longstanding norms.
Posts on X reflect growing public concern, with some users calling the policy a step toward “ethnic cleansing” and expressing fears that even minor infractions, like unreported speeding tickets, could be used to target naturalized citizens.
Others, however, support the DOJ’s efforts, arguing they protect the nation from “predators, criminals, and terrorists.”
Supporters and Critics Weigh InHans von Spakovsky of the conservative Heritage Foundation defends the DOJ’s actions, stating, “The Justice Department is right to take action to protect the nation from obvious predators and criminals.”
Conversely, immigration attorneys warn that the policy’s reliance on civil litigation could lead to wrongful denaturalizations, as individuals lack adequate legal representation to challenge the government’s claims.
The Nation reports that the administration’s strategy aligns with the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which advocates for broader denaturalization efforts to target those who do not fit the “MAGA movement’s vision.”
Critics fear this could disproportionately affect the estimated 25 million naturalized U.S. citizens, particularly those from marginalized communities.
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Public and Political Reaction
Public sentiment, as reflected in recent NPR/Ipsos polling, shows a divided nation.
A February 2025 poll indicated that 55% of Americans support reducing immigration levels, a sentiment that tends to correlate with perceptions of border security.
However, protests against Trump’s immigration policies, including denaturalization, have erupted in cities like New York, Chicago, and Seattle, with demonstrators arguing that the administration’s actions sow fear and division.
Congressional Democrats have pushed back, proposing amendments to block additional funding for immigration enforcement that could target citizens.
House Republicans rejected these efforts, fueling concerns that the policy could extend beyond serious criminals to naturalized citizens who oppose the administration politically.
As the Trump administration continues to reshape immigration policy, the DOJ’s denaturalization efforts are likely to face legal challenges.
Immigration attorneys are preparing for potential lawsuits, citing concerns over constitutionality and the erosion of due process.
Meanwhile, the administration’s focus on enforcement, including data-sharing with states and expanded ICE operations, signals a broader crackdown that could redefine who is considered “American.”
The debate over denaturalization underscores a deeper tension: balancing national security with the rights of naturalized citizens.
As the policy unfolds, its impact on millions of Americans and the nation’s identity will remain a contentious issue.
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