Who Could Lose U.S. Citizenship?

In 2025, under the Donald Trump administration, U.S. authorities are intensifying denaturalization processes. Therefore, certain naturalized citizens face risks of losing citizenship. Additionally, USCIS guidelines seek to review thousands of cases annually.

What are the main reasons?

Naturalization fraud tops the list. For example, lying in interviews or using false documents leads to revocation. Similarly, concealing serious crimes during the application process activates legal proceedings.​

War crimes and terrorism are priorities. Specifically, links to groups such as MS-13 or Tren de Aragua, declared terrorists in January 2025, justify loss of citizenship. Additionally, espionage or support for illicit activities aggravate the case.

What are the at-risk profiles?

Naturalized citizens who omitted past crimes, such as fraud or sex crimes, are exposed. On the other hand, those who entered with false asylum or used incorrect names appear on review lists. Even gang participation or process corruption directly flags them.​

Voluntarily running for foreign office or joining non-U.S. militaries causes implied renunciation. However, treason or crimes against national security accelerate involuntary denaturalization.

Is it easy to revoke citizenship?

Immigration attorney Kathia Quirós, consulted by Telemundo, explained that these processes are neither immediate nor simple. «After the immigration office decides that this person should be denaturalized, they must go through a federal court process and these are processes that take time,» the specialist noted.

Quirós also questioned whether the monthly goals set by USCIS are truly feasible, due to the legal complexity and time these cases require in federal courts.

 

USCIS current plan

Recently, in December 2025, orders were issued to refer 100-200 cases monthly to the Department of Justice. Consequently, this multiplies the processes compared to the historical average of about a dozen annually. However, it only affects those who obtained citizenship fraudulently.​

Consequences

Losing citizenship implies potential statelessness. Additionally, it requires a visa to return to the U.S. and eliminates rights such as voting. Therefore, experts recommend clear documentation and immediate legal counsel.