ALERT: USCIS Seeks to Strip Citizenship from Those Who Lied During Naturalization

The administration of Donald Trump is intensifying the review of old naturalization records in the United States. The agency is paying special attention to people who allegedly concealed information or lied during the process to obtain U.S. citizenship.

The director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, confirmed that the agency is working with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to identify cases where citizenship may have been obtained fraudulently. «Lying on a citizenship application is a serious crime,» Edlow said earlier this month, referring to a case in Nevada.

The official added that USCIS is collaborating with the DOJ to «identify, denaturalize, and hold accountable» those who obtained citizenship illegally. The statement came after a naturalized citizen was accused of lying about criminal history when applying for citizenship.

123 Denaturalization Cases Already Filed

The scope of this strategy is reflected in official DOJ figures. Since January 20, 2025, the Department of Justice has filed 123 civil denaturalization lawsuits, the highest number in the agency’s history, according to a USCIS statement.

Between July 20 and August 3 alone, the DOJ filed 25 cases against people accused of felonies, including attempted murder, domestic abuse, and child sexual abuse. «U.S. citizenship is one of the highest privileges of our nation, and it must be obtained legally and honestly,» said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The cases include accusations of concealing crimes, using false identities, or providing incorrect information during immigration proceedings. However, these are allegations: it does not mean that all individuals involved have permanently lost their citizenship.

The Expansion Plan Already Underway

The increase in these cases did not begin suddenly. The New York Times reported in December 2025 that an internal USCIS guide asked its offices to provide between 100 and 200 denaturalization cases per month to the DOJ’s litigation division during fiscal year 2026.

Axios reported in May that the administration temporarily transferred USCIS lawyers to the DOJ to accelerate citizenship revocation procedures. According to that report, Department of Justice officials had already pre-selected 385 people as potential candidates for denaturalization charges.

During Trump’s first term, USCIS identified around 2,500 potential cases, but only referred a fraction to the DOJ. The difference with the current pace shows the weight that denaturalization now carries within the administration’s immigration agenda.

What the Law Says About Citizenship Revocation

Denaturalization is covered under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when citizenship was obtained illegally, through concealment of an important fact or deliberate false statement. It is not an automatic or administrative process.

For a civil denaturalization action, the government must present the case before a federal court and obtain a judicial ruling in its favor. USCIS has indicated that in these proceedings, the government must provide clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence that leaves no doubt about the alleged fraud.

This means that a review of records by USCIS does not automatically result in losing U.S. citizenship. The accused person has the right to defend themselves in judicial proceedings and to have legal representation before a judge issues a final decision.

Edlow’s strategy aims to review old records and detect possible cases of immigration fraud that could become judicial proceedings. Those who have questions about their naturalization process or receive a USCIS notification related to a possible review should immediately consult with a certified immigration attorney to learn about their rights and legal options.