Naturalized Citizens May Lose US Citizenship Over Criminal Allegations, DOJ Confirms

The Trump administration is escalating its denaturalization policy, targeting naturalized US citizens suspected of obtaining citizenship through fraudulent means, according to a Justice Department memo dated 11 June. 

The directive outlines a sweeping expansion of denaturalization efforts, prioritizing civil proceedings against individuals in ten high-risk categories. This move has sparked considerable concern among civil liberties advocates and immigration experts. The Justice Department document instructs lawyers to pursue civil action against individuals who "illegally procured" citizenship or concealed pertinent information during the naturalization process. 

The emphasis on civil, rather than criminal, litigation lowers the burden of proof for the government and removes the defendant's right to state-appointed counsel. Given that approximately 25 million naturalised citizens reside in the United States as of 2023, critics fear the policy's potential impact. The policy extends beyond targeting individuals involved in serious criminal activity. Justice Department lawyers are now authorised to initiate denaturalisation proceedings in cases involving immigration deception, medical or financial fraud, ongoing criminal proceedings, or referrals from US attorneys. 

Legal observers express concerns that this broad discretion could lead to politically motivated or excessively aggressive implementation of the policy. This development occurs amid internal tensions within the Justice Department's civil rights division. Established to enforce civil rights protections, the division has undergone a marked shift under the Trump administration, aligning its mission with the administration's broader political agenda. This includes dismantling federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes and opposing gender-affirming healthcare.

Recent actions underscore this ideological shift. The Justice Department launched a lawsuit against 15 district attorneys in Maryland, challenging a legal injunction hindering the immediate deportation of migrants. Furthermore, the University of Virginia President Jim Ryan resigned amid a civil rights probe into the university's race-conscious admissions practices, another manifestation of the administration's opposition to DEI initiatives.

The revocation of citizenship from Elliott Duke, a UK-born US military veteran, has amplified concerns surrounding the denaturalisation push. On 13 June, a judge ordered Duke's denaturalisation after he failed to disclose a past conviction related to child exploitation material during his citizenship application.