The Justice Department announced Monday that it is seeking to revoke citizenship from more than a dozen individuals, alleging they committed fraud during the naturalization process by failing to disclose prior criminal histories including child sexual abuse, fraud, and drug trafficking.
The denaturalization actions target individuals originally from Somalia, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, and Jamaica. DOJ officials told the Washington Examiner that the coordinated enforcement effort represents an unprecedented surge in efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans who allegedly obtained their status through deception.
"Citizenship is a privilege, not a right," said one senior DOJ official involved in the cases. "When individuals lie about serious crimes during the naturalization process, they have forfeited any claim to that privilege."
What the Right Is Saying
Republican lawmakers and administration officials defended the denaturalization push as a necessary enforcement tool that protects the integrity of the naturalization process.
"If you lied to get citizenship, you don't deserve it," said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. "These are not technical violations. We're talking about people who concealed violent felonies and serious crimes."
The White House issued a statement emphasizing that individuals who obtained citizenship through fraud should not retain the benefits of United States citizenship. The administration pointed to public safety concerns raised by cases involving sexual offenses against children.
"The American people have a right to expect that those granted citizenship did not deceive federal authorities about violent criminal histories," the statement read.
Former ICE Director Tom Homan called the denaturalization effort "long overdue." "For too long, individuals who lied their way into this country have escaped accountability," Homan said in an interview. "This administration is finally enforcing laws that were on the books but never adequately utilized."
What the Left Is Saying
Civil liberties advocates and Democratic lawmakers expressed concerns about the scope and pace of the denaturalization efforts. Critics argue that due process protections must be maintained even in cases involving alleged fraud.
"Denaturalization is one of the most severe government actions possible," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "We need to ensure these proceedings meet constitutional standards and that individuals have full opportunity to contest allegations in court."
The American Civil Liberties Union noted that naturalized citizens facing denaturalization must have access to legal counsel and a fair hearing process. "No one should lose their citizenship without robust due process protections," the organization said in a statement.
Immigration attorneys have also questioned whether past convictions that occurred before naturalization but were undisclosed are being treated consistently across different cases. Some advocates worry about potential disparate treatment based on national origin or ethnicity.
"We need transparency about how these cases are selected and what evidence is being used to support denaturalization claims," said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel at the American Immigration Council. "The burden of proof should be high given the permanent consequences."
What the Numbers Show
The Justice Department has filed denaturalization complaints against at least 13 individuals in the current enforcement action, according to officials familiar with the cases.
The alleged undisclosed crimes cited in the complaints include multiple counts of fraud, drug trafficking, and sexual offenses. In several cases, officials say the criminal records were discovered through enhanced background check procedures implemented over the past two years.
Denaturalization cases brought by DOJ have increased significantly under the current administration. According to federal court records, the government filed 47 denaturalization complaints in fiscal year 2025 compared to an average of fewer than 15 per year in the preceding decade.
The countries of origin for individuals targeted in this round of actions include Somalia (3), Haiti (2), Colombia (2), Mexico (2), Cuba (1), and Jamaica (1). The remaining cases involve dual nationals from other nations.
The Bottom Line
The denaturalization efforts represent a significant escalation in immigration enforcement priorities. Legal experts say the government has broad authority to revoke citizenship obtained through fraud, though such cases can take years to resolve through federal courts.
Those facing denaturalization have the right to contest the government's allegations and present evidence on their own behalf. Immigration courts do not handle denaturalization proceedings; instead, these cases are heard in federal district courts where the burden falls on the government to prove fraud by clear and convincing evidence.
Civil liberties advocates say they will be monitoring upcoming hearings closely to ensure due process standards are met. The outcome of these cases could establish precedents affecting future denaturalization efforts targeting naturalized citizens.