Trump Administration Plans Major Expansion of Denaturalization Efforts in 2026, Raising Legal and Civil Rights Concerns

Trump Administration Moves to Aggressively Expand Denaturalization Efforts

The Trump administration is preparing to significantly increase efforts to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized Americans, a process known as denaturalization, according to internal government guidance issued in December 2025. The initiative, expected to roll out in full during the 2026 fiscal year, marks one of the most aggressive expansions of denaturalization efforts in modern U.S. history and has sparked widespread concern among immigration advocates, legal scholars, and civil rights groups.

Denaturalization refers to the legal process through which the U.S. government strips citizenship from individuals who were not born U.S. citizens but later became naturalized. While historically rare and narrowly applied, the administration’s new directive suggests a dramatic escalation in both scale and scope.

Ramped-Up Enforcement Targets Hundreds of Cases Monthly

According to reports, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field offices have been instructed to refer 100 to 200 denaturalization cases per month to the Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation throughout fiscal year 2026. If implemented, this would represent an unprecedented surge.

For comparison, between 1990 and 2017, the federal government filed an average of approximately 11 denaturalization cases per year, primarily targeting individuals involved in war crimes, terrorism, or large-scale immigration fraud.

Immigration experts say the proposed increase signals a fundamental shift in how citizenship enforcement is approached in the United States.

Legal Basis: High Bar, Narrow Grounds

Under existing federal law, denaturalization is permitted only if the government can prove that an individual committed fraud or willfully misrepresented a material fact during the naturalization process. This standard has been reinforced by multiple Supreme Court rulings, which make clear that citizenship cannot be revoked for:

• Political beliefs or affiliations

• Minor or immaterial paperwork errors

• Conduct occurring after naturalization

The courts have consistently emphasized that U.S. citizenship is a fundamental right and that revocation must meet a high legal threshold.

Broad Language Raises Fears of Overreach

While administration officials have stated that the initiative will prioritize individuals involved in serious crimes—including terrorism, war crimes, human rights abuses, or gang-related activity—critics warn that the broad and vague language used in internal guidance could allow for far wider application.

Immigration attorneys and former USCIS officials have expressed concern that individuals who made honest mistakes, misunderstood complex immigration forms, or failed to disclose long-past or minor issues could become targets. Others warn that denaturalization could be used selectively or politically, despite legal safeguards.

Shift to Civil Litigation Lowers Protections

Another major change under the new initiative is the administration’s preference for pursuing denaturalization through civil litigation rather than criminal prosecution.

This distinction is critical:

• No guaranteed right to a government-appointed attorney

• Lower burden of proof for the government compared to criminal cases

• Faster proceedings with fewer procedural protections for defendants

  
  

Legal advocates argue this approach places naturalized citizens at a disadvantage and undermines long-standing principles of due process.

Impact on Millions of Naturalized Americans

There are an estimated 26 million naturalized U.S. citizens living in the United States today. Advocates warn that aggressive denaturalization policies could create a climate of fear and uncertainty, effectively establishing a two-tiered system of citizenship—one in which naturalized Americans face permanent scrutiny while U.S.-born citizens do not.

Former immigration officials have cautioned that such policies could discourage eligible immigrants from applying for citizenship, weaken civic participation, and erode trust in democratic institutions.

President Trump’s Position on Citizenship

President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he would “absolutely” pursue denaturalization against certain naturalized citizens—particularly those he views as criminals or national security threats—if legally permissible.

In parallel, Trump has also repeatedly called for an end to birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents. However, executive actions aimed at curtailing birthright citizenship have been blocked by federal courts, which have ruled them unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment.

Legal Challenges Expected

Legal experts widely expect the administration’s denaturalization push to face significant court challenges. Civil rights organizations are preparing to contest the initiative on constitutional, procedural, and human rights grounds, arguing that it undermines equal citizenship protections and due process.

As the policy moves toward implementation in 2026, the courts are likely to play a decisive role in determining how far the federal government can go in revoking citizenship—and whether this expanded effort can withstand constitutional scrutiny.

This developing policy debate underscores growing tensions around immigration, citizenship, and civil rights in the United States, with long-term implications for millions of Americans