Trump DOJ Launches Largest Denaturalization Crackdown in…

The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has launched the most aggressive denaturalization campaign in the nation’s history, filing a wave of new complaints against naturalized citizens accused of lying, cheating, and committing serious crimes to obtain their citizenship. The announcement, made this week by top DOJ officials, marks a dramatic escalation of the administration’s effort to restore integrity to the naturalization process.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made the announcement alongside Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, who heads the department’s Civil Division. Twenty-five new complaints were filed against naturalized citizens from 17 different countries, bringing the total number of denaturalization filings under the Trump administration to 123 since the president returned to office in January 2025. According to DOJ officials, that is the highest number of denaturalization cases ever filed by a single administration.

“U.S. citizenship is one of our nation’s highest privileges, and it must be obtained lawfully and honestly,” Blanche said in a statement announcing the surge. The message reflected the administration’s broader immigration enforcement priorities, with a renewed emphasis on combating fraud and abuse within the immigration system.

Shumate underscored the scale of the initiative.

“Today marks the largest denaturalization surge in recorded history,” he said. “Every one of these individuals committed crimes incompatible with U.S. citizenship. We are moving at record speed to denaturalize those who sought to deceive the federal government and abuse the naturalization process.”

The allegations against the 25 individuals targeted in this latest round include attempted murder, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, marriage fraud, identity fraud, passport fraud, bank and credit card fraud, and practicing medicine without a license. According to the Justice Department, each case involves individuals who allegedly concealed material facts or committed fraud during the naturalization process.

One case out of North Carolina involves a man convicted of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The individual obtained U.S. citizenship through military service, but federal prosecutors allege he failed to satisfy the statutory requirement for honorable service, rendering his naturalization invalid under federal law.

Another case in South Carolina centers on a naturalized citizen accused of concealing a violent assault against his wife. Prosecutors allege he later pleaded guilty to assault and battery after beating and choking the victim, yet failed to disclose the incident during the naturalization process.

The Justice Department is also pursuing denaturalization against Yi Lee, a 46-year-old man from Taiwan, who is accused of orchestrating a marriage fraud scheme that enabled individuals to obtain immigration benefits through sham marriages. Prosecutors further allege Lee committed perjury and made false statements during his naturalization interview and application process.

Under federal law, the government may revoke citizenship through either civil or criminal denaturalization proceedings. Civil cases require clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence, while criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The administration has primarily relied on civil proceedings to pursue cases involving alleged fraud in the naturalization process.

The current initiative follows a June 2025 Justice Department memorandum directing federal attorneys nationwide to prioritize denaturalization cases involving individuals connected to terrorism, gang activity, violent crime, and other serious offenses. Since then, enforcement activity has accelerated significantly.

In June, the department filed actions against 17 individuals from 13 countries over allegations that included child sexual abuse, narcotics trafficking, and large-scale financial fraud. In July, prosecutors filed 10 additional denaturalization cases targeting individuals accused of offenses ranging from child exploitation to a $900,000 Medicare fraud scheme and cocaine trafficking.

The Justice Department has emphasized that the cases involve individuals accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud, concealing criminal histories, or making false statements during the naturalization process. Officials have stated that the campaign is focused on protecting the integrity of American citizenship by ensuring that those who obtained it unlawfully are held accountable.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services refers cases to the Justice Department when evidence indicates an individual may have obtained citizenship unlawfully or through material misrepresentations. Those referrals have resulted in a steady stream of denaturalization actions as the administration expands its enforcement efforts.

The denaturalization campaign forms part of the administration’s broader immigration strategy, which includes expanded interior enforcement operations, increased prosecutions for immigration fraud, and heightened scrutiny of unlawful conduct within the immigration system.

Legal experts note that denaturalization cases carry significant consequences. A successful action revokes an individual’s citizenship and may lead to the loss of voting rights, eligibility for a U.S. passport, and, in many cases, subsequent deportation proceedings if the underlying conduct warrants removal.

Administration officials have described the initiative as an effort to preserve the integrity of the naturalization process and ensure that citizenship remains reserved for those who obtained it lawfully and honestly.

With 123 denaturalization complaints filed since President Trump’s return to office, including 25 in the latest wave alone, the Justice Department has indicated that additional filings are expected as federal prosecutors continue reviewing cases involving alleged naturalization fraud and serious criminal conduct.