Denaturalization

The Trump Administration is increasingly pushing to denaturalize naturalized citizens. President Trump himself has said he would "absolutely" denaturalize certain U.S. citizens if he could.

A naturalized citizen can be denaturalized if they procured naturalization by concealing a material fact or by willful misrepresentation. Denaturalization on this basis requires you to have 1) concealed or misrepresented some material fact, 2) the misrepresentation or concealment was willful, 3) the misrepresented or concealed fact was material, and 4) you procured citizenship as a result of the concealment or misrepresentation.

Other potential grounds for denaturalization include if a naturalized citizen becomes a member or affiliated with the Communist Party, another totalitarian party, or a terrorist organization within ten years immediately preceding the filing off the naturalization (Form N-400) or the five years immediately after being naturalized. Note that the government gets to decide what a terrorist organization is on its own accord.

Yet, even if the federal government attempts to denaturalize you, it must meet a high burden of proof. If the federal government attempts to denaturalize you in civil proceedings, it must show "clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence which does not leave the issue in doubt" that you procured naturalization unlawfully and/or concealed or willfully misrepresented a material fact. There is no time bar on the government pursuing civil denaturalization.

As to criminal denaturalization, the federal government must show "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that you violated 18 U.S.C. 1425 because you knowingly obtained or attempted to obtain naturalization through fraud. The government has ten years to start such litigation.

Besides affecting you, your family members can be affected if you are denaturalized.

As recently as June 11, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an internal memorandum authored by Brett A. Shumate which directs Justice Department attorneys to "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence."