The U.S. Department of Justice has officially issued a memo dated June 11, directing attorneys to prioritise civil denaturalisation proceedings against naturalised citizens accused of serious wrongdoing, potentially affecting up to 25 million people born abroad who became U.S. citizens.
Under the memo, citizenship may be revoked if obtained through “illegal procurement” or false claims, or if the individual is involved in crimes ranging from war crimes, terrorism and gang activity to financial crimes, human trafficking, sex offences, or other violent acts. The move is part of a broader shift in immigration enforcement policies under the Trump administration.
Unlike criminal cases, civil denaturalisation does not guarantee the right to counsel and follows a lower burden of proof, raising concerns of due-process violations. “It is kind of, in a way, trying to create a second class of US citizens,” remarked Sameera Hafiz from the Immigration Legal Resource Center.
