The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a sweeping directive instructing U.S. attorneys nationwide to aggressively pursue denaturalization proceedings against naturalized American citizens with criminal records, signaling a renewed effort under the Trump administration to crack down on immigration-related crime.
In a memo dated June 11, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate called on the DOJ’s Civil Division to “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.” The directive specifically targets individuals whose naturalization was obtained illegally or through misrepresentation, as well as those with ties to serious criminal activity.
Shumate emphasized that denaturalization should be sought against individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety, including those linked to terrorism, espionage, and the illegal export of sensitive U.S. technologies. “The benefits of civil denaturalization include the government’s ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or other serious human rights abuses,” the memo states.
Additionally, the Justice Department is urging attorneys to initiate denaturalization cases against naturalized citizens involved in a broad range of crimes, including human trafficking, sex offenses, violent crimes, gang activity, and financial fraud schemes such as Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse of the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
“The Department of Justice may institute civil proceedings to revoke a person’s United States citizenship if an individual either ‘illegally procured’ naturalization or procured naturalization by ‘concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation,’” Shumate wrote.
The memo outlines ten categories of criminal conduct that are now considered high-priority for denaturalization, reflecting the administration’s broader enforcement agenda. Among these are crimes connected to transnational criminal organizations, drug cartels, and large-scale financial fraud against both public and private entities.
This initiative aligns with President Trump’s broader immigration policy goals, which have consistently focused on increasing border security and targeting individuals who, in the administration’s view, have exploited the naturalization process.
Critics, however, argue that the policy could open the door to overreach and politicized enforcement. Civil rights advocates warn that increased denaturalization efforts could create fear among immigrant communities and raise concerns about due process.
Nonetheless, the Justice Department insists that denaturalization will only be pursued in cases where there is clear legal justification and strong supporting evidence. “This is about ensuring that those who obtained U.S. citizenship fraudulently or engaged in serious criminal conduct are held accountable,” Shumate stated.
As this directive begins implementation, U.S. attorneys across the country are expected to begin reviewing cases that fall under the newly outlined priorities, potentially leading to a surge in denaturalization proceedings in the months ahead.
