WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed denaturalization actions against 17 naturalized citizens accused of serious offenses including immigration fraud, sexual abuse of a minor, wire and bank fraud, and drug distribution, officials said Monday.
The cases, filed in federal courts across the country, represent the largest single set of denaturalization actions announced by the Trump administration to date. The Justice Department described the effort as targeting individuals who allegedly concealed criminal conduct or were ineligible for citizenship due to lack of good moral character.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement, “Gaining U.S. citizenship is a privilege and under the steadfast leadership of President Trump, this Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse of this process.” He added that the department continues to work with interagency partners to ensure citizenship is granted only to those who deserve it.
The actions build on a broader expansion of denaturalization efforts. In December 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services directed field offices to refer 100 to 200 potential cases per month to the Justice Department for fiscal year 2026. A June 2025 Justice Department memo also prioritized denaturalization proceedings, listing categories including national security threats, war crimes, and various fraud cases.
Federal law allows denaturalization if citizenship was illegally procured or obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation. The process requires court proceedings, during which individuals can contest the government’s claims. Historical data show denaturalization was rare before the current administration, with an average of about 11 cases filed annually between 1990 and 2017.
Immigration advocates have expressed concerns that numerical targets and expanded priorities could lead to overreach, potentially affecting cases involving minor errors or older conduct. The administration has maintained that efforts focus on fraud and serious crimes. Details on the specific backgrounds of the 17 individuals were not fully detailed in the announcement beyond the general categories of offenses.
The Justice Department has secured previous denaturalizations in recent months, including cases involving health care fraud and gun trafficking. Officials have identified hundreds of additional potential cases for review.
Spokespeople for the Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department emphasized that the program aims to restore integrity to the naturalization process. No comprehensive figures on ongoing reviews were released with Monday’s announcement.
The cases will proceed through federal courts, with outcomes depending on evidence presented. Further announcements on additional actions are expected as the administration continues its enforcement priorities.
