In a sweeping directive aimed at bolstering national security and fighting crime, the Trump administration has ordered federal prosecutors to aggressively pursue civil denaturalization cases—targeting individuals who gained U.S. citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation, and who pose threats ranging from terrorism to violent crime and financial fraud.
The memo, issued by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate on June 11, instructs U.S. attorneys to “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.” Shumate specifically names individuals with ties to terrorism, espionage, war crimes, and organized crime as top priorities, alongside those convicted of serious offenses such as human trafficking, child exploitation, and large-scale financial fraud.
“The benefits of civil denaturalization include the government’s ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or serious human rights abuses; remove naturalized criminals and gang members; and prevent terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or using a U.S. passport,” Shumate wrote in the memo.
Under federal law, the DOJ may seek to revoke U.S. citizenship if naturalization was “illegally procured” or obtained through “willful misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact.”
Shumate’s directive identifies ten categories of individuals as denaturalization targets, including:
Those with ties to terrorist networks or espionage.
Individuals involved in child sexual exploitation or sex trafficking.
Those convicted of violent crimes or gang-related activity.
Perpetrators of financial crimes involving federal programs, such as PPP loan fraud or Medicare fraud.
Members or associates of transnational criminal organizations and drug cartels.
Individuals who defrauded private citizens, companies, or institutions.
The memo arrives amid renewed focus within the Trump-aligned Justice Department to shift resources in the Civil Division toward denaturalization efforts and away from Biden-era Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. It reflects an administration-wide push to crack down on immigration fraud and remove foreign-born individuals deemed dangerous or dishonest.
Only two days after the memo’s release, the DOJ announced it had successfully denaturalized a man convicted of collecting and distributing child sexual abuse material — signaling the administration’s intent to move swiftly and decisively under the new policy.
While civil denaturalization does not carry criminal penalties, it strips the individual of U.S. citizenship and renders them subject to deportation.
Critics warn the memo could pave the way for politicized overreach or discourage naturalized citizens from fully integrating. But DOJ officials insist the focus is squarely on individuals who gained citizenship unlawfully and who pose an ongoing threat.
“This is about protecting American communities and ensuring that citizenship remains a sacred trust,” a senior Justice Department official said.
The move underscores the Trump administration’s broader law-and-order platform heading into the next election cycle — and signals that citizenship fraud is now squarely in the federal government’s crosshairs.
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