Immigrants who earned U.S. citizenship have historically only faced denaturalization for serious offenses such as hiding ties to terrorism, war crimes, or lying on their applications, with fewer than a dozen cases annually. However, during Donald Trump’s first presidency, the administration significantly expanded efforts to denaturalize thousands of naturalized citizens as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
Last week, Trump renewed this initiative, allocating resources to revoke citizenship for cases of “unlawfully procured” naturalization, as outlined in his executive orders aimed at national security and public safety.
Amanda Frost, an immigration attorney and law professor, noted that substantial resources had previously been directed toward denaturalization efforts under Trump’s first term, casting a much wider net than before.
The initiative has sparked concern among immigrant advocates, who highlight the fear it creates even for those who obtained citizenship lawfully. During Trump’s earlier term, his administration launched reviews of 700,000 naturalized citizens and prioritized prosecuting minor discrepancies in immigration histories. Although the effort fell short of its goals, critics argue that the approach undermines the permanence of naturalization.
Historically, denaturalization was rare and targeted severe cases, but Trump’s broader strategy signals a continuation of policies that leave many naturalized citizens uncertain about the security of their status.
