- Trump Administration Expands Efforts to Revoke U.S. Citizenship
- The list also covers individuals who failed to disclose felonies, committed violent offenses
- Priority is given to cases involving fraud against private organizations
The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division has announced a renewed focus on civil denaturalization proceedings, as stated in a memorandum issued by Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the directive details the division’s plan to pursue cases against individuals who acquired U.S. citizenship through illegal means.
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According to the memo, “The Department of Justice may institute civil proceedings to revoke a person’s United States citizenship if the individual either ‘illegally procured’ naturalization or procured naturalization by ‘concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.’ 8 U.S.C. § 1451(a).”
The memo specifies that “the benefits of civil denaturalization include the government’s ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or other serious human rights abuses; to remove naturalized criminals, gang members, or any individuals convicted of crimes who pose an ongoing threat to the United States; and to prevent convicted terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or traveling internationally on a U.S. passport.”
It adds that “at a fundamental level, it also supports the overall integrity of the naturalization program by ensuring that those who unlawfully procured citizenship—including those who obtained it through fraud or concealment of material information—do not retain the benefits of such unlawful procurement.”
To direct its enforcement actions, the Civil Division has identified ten priority categories for denaturalization cases. According to the memorandum, “The Civil Division shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.
To promote the pursuit of all viable denaturalization cases under 8 U.S.C. § 1451 and maintain the integrity of the naturalization system while ensuring the appropriate allocation of resources, the Civil Division has established the following priority categories for denaturalization cases.”
These categories include individuals who pose national security threats, such as those linked to terrorism or espionage; those responsible for war crimes or human rights abuses; and members of criminal gangs or drug cartels.
The list also covers individuals who failed to disclose felonies, committed violent offenses, or engaged in financial fraud, including cases related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Medicaid or Medicare fraud.
Additionally, priority is given to cases involving fraud against private organizations, government corruption, and referrals from U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
The memo clarifies that these categories are “intended to guide the Civil Division in prioritizing which cases to pursue; however, these categories do not limit the Civil Division from pursuing any particular case, nor are they listed in any specific order of importance.”
It further states, “The Civil Division retains the discretion to pursue cases outside of these categories as it deems appropriate. The assignment of denaturalization cases may be made across sections or units based on experience, subject-matter expertise, and the overall needs of the Civil Division.”
This framework enables the division to address a broad spectrum of violations while efficiently allocating resources.
The Civil Division intends to work closely with other Department of Justice components and federal agencies to identify and pursue eligible cases, signaling a strong enforcement push.
This initiative is anticipated to result in a rise in denaturalization cases in the near future.
