In June 2025, the Department of Justice announced that they are prioritizing denaturalization. Denaturalization means taking U.S. citizenship away from Americans.
The Department of Justice can take legal action to revoke U.S. citizenship if it was obtained illegally or through hiding important facts or making false statements. The Civil Division indicated that they will give top priority to pursuing denaturalization in all cases allowed by law and backed by evidence.
What kind of cases are they looking at?
Individuals who fit the following descriptions may be at risk for denaturalization.
- Individuals who may pose a threat to national security due to links to terrorism, espionage, or the illegal export of sensitive U.S. goods, technology, or information.
- Individuals who have engaged in torture, war crimes or other human rights violations.
- Individuals involved in supporting or advancing the illegal activities of criminal gangs, drug cartels, or transnational organizations.
- Individuals who have committed felonies not disclosed during the naturalization process.
- Individuals who committed human trafficking, sex offenses, or violent crimes.
- Individuals who committed financial fraud against the United States, including PPP loan fraud and Medicaid or Medicare fraud.
- individuals who engaged in fraud against private individuals, funds, or corporations.
- Individuals who obtained U.S. citizenship through corruption, fraud, or false information, and do not fall under another priority category.
- Individuals referred by a U.S. Attorney’s Office or linked to pending criminal charges that don’t fall under another priority category.
- Other cases referred to the Civil Division that are considered important enough to pursue.
If you are concerned about your status or citizenship, and are a Muslim living in Washington state, reach out to CAIR-WA at cairwa.org/gethelp.