The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to revoke the U.S. citizenship of certain foreign-born Americans, aiming to launch between 100 and 200 denaturalization cases per month next year.
Guidance issued in December 2025 instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security, to provide the Office of Immigration Litigation with a steady stream of cases for review. Agency officials are now visiting field offices nationwide and reallocating staff to examine past naturalization records for potential denaturalization proceedings.
Denaturalization remains uncommon. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the U.S. averaged just 11 denaturalization cases annually between 1990 and 2017. Under federal law, citizenship can typically only be revoked in cases involving fraud or material misrepresentation during the naturalization process.
Matthew Tragesser, USCIS spokesperson, emphasized that the agency is focusing on cases backed by credible evidence of fraud.
“We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards fraud in the naturalization process and will pursue denaturalization proceedings for any individual who lied or misrepresented themselves,” Tragesser said.
“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.”
The effort aligns with the administration’s broader “war on fraud,” according to previous statements by agency officials.
In 2024, roughly 26 million naturalized citizens lived in the United States, and USCIS reports that more than 7.9 million individuals have become new citizens over the past decade.
A Department of Justice memorandum from June 2025 confirmed that President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi would “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.”
Officials say actions may target individuals who pose potential national security threats or who allegedly obtained citizenship through material misrepresentations.
Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups, however, warn that the administration’s broader guidelines could significantly expand denaturalization efforts, potentially affecting a far wider pool of U.S. citizens than historically seen.
