U.S. Department of Justice Targets Naturalized Americans Convicted of Crimes for Citizenship Revocation
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued new guidelines prioritizing the revocation of citizenship for naturalized Americans convicted of certain crimes, according to an internal memo dated June 11. The directive, signed by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, instructs attorneys in the DOJ’s Civil Division to “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence”.
The policy specifically targets individuals who pose a potential threat to national security, including those with links to terrorism, espionage, or the illegal export of sensitive goods and technology. It also applies to those convicted of war crimes, human trafficking, human rights violations, and violent crimes. In addition, cases involving fraud, such as lying or concealing criminal records during the naturalization process, are now under heightened scrutiny.
The memo grants U.S. attorneys broad discretion, allowing them to initiate denaturalization proceedings even against individuals with pending criminal charges, not just those already convicted. The DOJ emphasized that these efforts are intended to maintain the integrity of the naturalization process and ensure that citizenship is not retained by those who obtained it unlawfully or who later commit serious offenses.
Supporters of the policy argue that it strengthens national security and upholds the rule of law. However, critics warn the guidelines are vague and could be used to unfairly target immigrants for a wide range of actions, including minor offenses or procedural errors during the citizenship process. Legal experts have also raised concerns that the new approach marks a significant departure from previous DOJ practice, which rarely pursued denaturalization except in extreme cases such as terrorism or war crimes.
The DOJ has already cited recent cases, such as the denaturalization of a British man who failed to disclose a child sex offense conviction, as examples of the policy in action. The department has not released a comprehensive list of crimes that will trigger denaturalization, but officials say any case deemed “sufficiently important” may be pursued.
The move is part of a broader crackdown on immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, expanding efforts to not only detain and deport non-citizens but also to target naturalized Americans who violate the law. The DOJ has not commented on how many cases are currently under review or how many naturalized citizens could be affected.