The Trump administration plans to file at least 250 denaturalisation cases by October, significantly increasing efforts to revoke citizenship from naturalised Americans, according to a senior Justice Department official cited by CNN.
So far this year, the Justice Department has filed 29 cases alleging fraud in the citizenship process. Data from Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse shows only 166 cases were filed between 2008 and June 12, 2026, averaging fewer than 10 per year, highlighting the sharp rise.
CNN reports the push is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration agenda and has led to internal DOJ resource shifts, including reassigning civil litigators and involving U.S. attorney offices nationwide.
Officials told CNN the cases involve allegations such as fraud, undisclosed criminal activity, sexual abuse of a minor, and in some instances terrorism-related conduct tied to the naturalisation process.
Under U.S. law, citizenship can be revoked if it was illegally obtained or based on material misrepresentations. If successful, individuals revert to prior immigration status and may face deportation.
The Biden administration filed 24 such cases over four years, compared to hundreds expected under the current push.
Justice Department officials told CNN the effort targets serious fraud and national security risks, though legal experts note denaturalisation remains rare and difficult to pursue at scale.
