WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The Trump administration on Monday announced a major expansion of its effort to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized Americans accused of immigration fraud and other serious offenses.
The Justice Department said it is seeking to denaturalize 17 U.S. citizens in what officials describe as the largest single denaturalization initiative in the nation’s history. The move marks a significant escalation of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy.
Federal officials argue that the targeted individuals obtained U.S. citizenship through fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment of important information during the naturalization process. If courts approve the requests, those individuals could lose their American citizenship and face possible deportation.
The latest action follows a series of efforts by the Trump administration to increase immigration enforcement. Officials say denaturalization remains a legal tool for addressing cases in which foreign-born citizens allegedly lied or withheld information to gain citizenship. According to the Justice Department, the government rarely used denaturalization proceedings in previous decades. Historical data show that from 1990 to 2017, federal officials filed an average of only 11 denaturalization cases each year.
The administration has significantly increased those efforts since President Donald Trump returned to office. In 2025, the Justice Department expanded the categories of cases eligible for denaturalization review. Last month, officials announced 12 denaturalization cases, which at the time represented the largest such action in years. The newly announced cases surpass that total and signal a continued focus on immigration-related enforcement.
Court filings reveal that the 17 individuals come from several countries and face a range of allegations. Some of those targeted have convictions for violent crimes, including offenses involving children. Others face accusations of fraud, money laundering, or immigration-related violations.
Among the individuals named in court documents are a Haitian immigrant accused of sexually abusing his daughter, a former Yugoslav citizen convicted of child sexual abuse, and a Mexican immigrant convicted of receiving sexually explicit images of minors. The group also includes a former Catholic priest from Colombia who faces child sexual abuse allegations and a Filipino-born man who pleaded guilty to a child sex crime.
Federal officials also identified an Indian immigrant accused of filing fraudulent H-1B visa petitions, the daughter of a Colombian drug trafficker accused of money laundering, a Jamaican-born man convicted of wire fraud, and a Cuban-born woman accused of defrauding a tribal casino. Several others allegedly used false identities during the immigration process.
Federal law allows the government to seek the revocation of citizenship from naturalized Americans if officials believe they obtained citizenship through fraud or intentional deception. The process requires the government to present evidence in federal court. Judges ultimately decide whether citizenship should be revoked.
Naturalized citizens targeted for denaturalization have the right to challenge the government’s claims. They can present evidence and legal arguments in an effort to keep their citizenship. If a court orders denaturalization, the individual loses the rights and protections that come with U.S. citizenship. In most cases, the person returns to a previous immigration status, often that of a lawful permanent resident. Federal authorities may then pursue deportation proceedings.
Administration officials say the initiative protects the integrity of the U.S. immigration system. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department will maintain a strict approach toward individuals who allegedly abused the naturalization process. He said some applicants concealed criminal histories that included drug offenses, sexual crimes, and fraud. Officials argue that citizenship should only go to applicants who meet legal requirements and provide truthful information throughout the naturalization process.
