Green Card Holders Turned US Citizens Risk Denaturalisation Over Tax Violations

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is escalating its denaturalisation efforts, a move that places the citizenship status of naturalised Americans under increased scrutiny and has triggered concerns among immigrant communities and legal professionals. 

A recent memorandum designates denaturalisation as a key priority for the DOJ’s Civil Division, prompting questions about the long-term security of citizenship for individuals who gained it after obtaining lawful permanent residency. Naturalisation, the legal process by which green card holders become US citizens, has traditionally represented the culmination of the immigration journey, granting full civic participation. 

However, the DOJ's heightened focus on denaturalisation, particularly in civil proceedings, suggests citizenship is not as untouchable as previously understood. Denaturalisation typically occurs when citizenship is obtained through fraudulent means, misrepresentation, or the concealment of relevant information during the application process. 

Historically reserved for extreme cases such as war criminals or national security threats, denaturalisation is now being applied more broadly. Bloomberg Law reports that the previous administration cited under-reporting income on tax returns as grounds for revocation. One instance involved a Houston woman who, after pleading guilty to filing a false tax return and serving her sentence with restitution, faced denaturalisation proceedings.

This expansion of denaturalisation criteria has sparked a debate about proportionality and fairness, with critics arguing that minor civil infractions, particularly those unrelated to immigration fraud, should not jeopardise citizenship retroactively. The DOJ defends its position by emphasising the integrity of the naturalisation process, arguing that deliberate deception undermines the legitimacy of citizenship.

The threat of denaturalisation introduces vulnerability for many naturalised citizens, challenging the perceived security of their status.