Trump Administration Expands Efforts to Strip Citizenship from Naturalised Americans

Trump Administration Expands Efforts to Strip Citizenship from Naturalised Americans
Officials aim to generate 100–200 cases per month
Around 800,000 people are naturalised annually

The Trump administration is significantly expanding efforts to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalised Americans, sources say, as part of a wider crackdown on immigration.

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Eko Hot Blog gathered that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been redeploying experts and staff across its field offices to identify potential denaturalisation cases.

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Officials aim to generate 100–200 cases per month, a sharp increase from the 102 cases filed during Trump’s first term over four years.

Denaturalisation cases have historically focused on individuals who concealed criminal histories or human rights violations during the naturalisation process. This new push is part of broader Department of Homeland Security (DHS) measures, including large-scale deportation operations, expanded detention facilities, visa revocations, and efforts to deport green card holders.

USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser said: “We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards fraud in the naturalisation process and will pursue denaturalisation proceedings for any individual who lied or misrepresented themselves.”

Officials are also embedding trained staff across more than 80 field offices and directing the Justice Department to prioritise cases, including those involving national security risks, war crimes, torture, or government fraud, along with other significant cases.

Trump Administration Expands Efforts to Strip Citizenship from Naturalised Americans

Former USCIS official Doug Rand emphasised the complexity and rarity of stripping citizenship “It’s so important for current and future naturalised U.S. citizens to know that no president can unilaterally strip people of the citizenship they’ve worked so hard to earn.”

Trump has also targeted birthright citizenship, challenging the constitutional guarantee in ongoing Supreme Court proceedings. On social media, he pledged to remove anyone who is not a “net asset” to the U.S. and vowed to “denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility.”

Around 800,000 people are naturalised annually, meeting requirements including legal permanent residency, English proficiency, knowledge of U.S. civics, and demonstration of “good moral character.” Experts warn that the expanded denaturalisation push raises significant legal and civil rights questions.