The Trump administration is ramping up efforts to strip U.S. citizenship from naturalised Americans, aiming for 100–200 denaturalisation cases monthly
Trump Administration Accelerates Plans to Strip Citizenship from Naturalised Americans
The Trump administration is dramatically scaling up efforts to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalised Americans, part of an aggressive immigration enforcement push that includes mass deportations, expanded detention, and visa crackdowns.
According to people familiar with the plans, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is redeploying specialised staff and shifting personnel across more than 80 field offices nationwide to identify and build denaturalisation cases at a much faster pace.
The goal: generate 100 to 200 new cases per month for litigation — a dramatic increase compared with the 102 total cases filed during the entirety of Trump’s first term.
Historically, denaturalisation proceedings have targeted individuals who concealed serious criminal histories, human rights violations, war crimes, or terrorism links during their citizenship applications. The current expansion appears far broader, with the Justice Department instructing attorneys to prioritise cases involving national security threats — and leaving room for a wide range of other “significant” matters.
USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser defended the approach, telling NBC News, “We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards fraud in the naturalisation process and will pursue denaturalisation proceedings for any individual who lied or misrepresented themselves. We will continue to relentlessly pursue those undermining the integrity of America’s immigration system and work alongside the Department of Justice to ensure that only those who meet citizenship standards retain the privilege of U.S. citizenship.”
To accelerate the process, officials are embedding trained investigators in field offices nationwide and streamlining coordination with the Justice Department.
The renewed focus comes as President Trump continues his long-standing campaign to redefine aspects of U.S. citizenship. He has repeatedly challenged birthright citizenship — an issue currently before the Supreme Court — and on Truth Social vowed to remove anyone who is not a “net asset” to the country, pledging to “denaturalise migrants who undermine domestic tranquillity.”
Around 800,000 people become naturalised U.S. citizens each year after meeting requirements that include years of legal permanent residency, English proficiency, civics knowledge, and demonstration of “good moral character.”
Experts emphasise that denaturalisation remains extremely rare and legally difficult. Doug Rand, a former USCIS official, warned:
“It’s so important for current and future naturalised U.S. citizens to know that no president can unilaterally strip people of the citizenship they’ve worked so hard to earn.”
The intensified effort is part of a wider Department of Homeland Security strategy that includes large-scale deportation operations, expanded detention capacity, and attempts to deport some lawful permanent residents.
As the policy takes shape, immigration advocates and legal experts are closely watching how broadly the administration will interpret “fraud or misrepresentation” and whether the sharp increase in cases will hold up under judicial scrutiny. Read More
