DOJ Identifies 384 Citizens for Denaturalization as Trump Administration Launches Historic Crackdown on Citizenship Fraud

Donald Trump’s Department of Justice is reportedly planning to revoke the citizenship of hundreds of Americans born abroad. According to the New York Times, the DOJ has identified 384 individuals for potential denaturalization. The decision comes as part of a push to accelerate denaturalization proceedings by assigning cases to prosecutors in U.S. attorneys’ offices nationwide.

According to the New York Times, senior Justice Department officials told a meeting last week that civil litigators in 39 regional offices would soon begin filing denaturalization cases against certain individuals. The report highlights that, under federal law, the government may ask the court to strip an individual of citizenship if it was obtained fraudulently.

Examples include entering into a sham marriage or concealing details of a past that may have made an individual ineligible for citizenship. In addition, the individuals who commit crimes can also be denaturalized.

The process is lengthy because the government must present evidence in criminal or civil court proceedings, legal experts note. Reflecting on the decision, Matthew Tragesser, a Justice Department spokesman, stated that officials were “pursuing the highest volume of denaturalization referrals in history” from the Department of Homeland Security.

He added, “The Department of Justice is laser-focused on rooting out criminal aliens defrauding the naturalization process. Under the leadership of President Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Department is pursuing the highest volume of denaturalization referrals in history, thanks to close partnerships (with immigration agencies).”

The Justice Department also said efforts are moving quickly to hold those accused of fraud accountable and pursue legal action, adding that referrals filed in the past year have already surpassed the total from the previous four years, with more expected.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson also called citizenship fraud a "serious crime." She also warned that anyone who has gained citizenship by breaking the law or through fraud and deception “will be held accountable.” Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia, offered her assessment of the decision.

She explained, “The message it sends is that naturalized citizens don’t have the same rights and stability as native-born citizens. The government has used this power in the past to target people it views as political opponents.”

The New York Times report also highlights that between 2017 and late 2025, just over 120 naturalized Americans were stripped of their citizenship. During last week’s meeting, Francey Hakes, the director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, stated that the 384 individuals identified for denaturalization were “the first wave of cases.”

She acknowledged that many civil divisions in US attorney offices are understaffed and are struggling to handle a surge of lawsuits from immigrants contesting their detentions. She said, “I hope these cases will not be too much of an additional burden,” further adding that the focus on denaturalization was “White House’s initiative.” On the other hand, Jackson stressed that it wasn’t a “White House initiative — it’s federal law.”

According to reports, in December 2025, the Trump administration directed the DHS to make up to 200 referrals for possible denaturalization.