Trump began revoking citizenship from naturalized immigrants who committed crimes

The administration of President Donald Trump has intensified its immigration policy with a new directive from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that expands efforts to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized individuals who are accused of certain serious crimes. 

An internal memorandum dated June 11, signed by Deputy Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, states that the DOJ's Civil Division must "prioritize and pursue to the fullest denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by evidence."

The measure seeks to strip citizenship from individuals who committed fraud during the naturalization process or who pose a threat to national security.

In particular, the memorandum identifies as targets individuals linked to terrorism, espionage, criminal gangs, human trafficking, sex crimes, violence, or fraud against government programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. It also includes individuals involved in war crimes, extrajudicial killings, and serious human rights violations.

The memorandum establishes that even naturalized citizens with pending criminal cases could be subject to deportation before their judicial situation is solved. 

One cited case is that of Elliott Duke, a U.S. Army veteran born in the United Kingdom, whose citizenship was revoked by a federal judge in Louisiana on June 13. Duke had been convicted in 2014 of distributing child sexual abuse material, a crime he did not disclose during his naturalization process.

This case illustrates how the DOJ is forcefully applying this new policy and the high degree of commitment it demonstrates to bringing a better standard of living and greater security to U.S. citizens. 

The memorandum is part of five priorities established by the DOJ under Trump's executive orders, issued at the beginning of his term. These include, in addition to denaturalization, measures against gender-affirming medical care, lawsuits against federal companies for diversity and inclusion programs, combating antisemitism, and ending "sanctuary jurisdictions."

Since the 1950s, the practice of revoking U.S. citizenship had decreased considerably after several Supreme Court rulings restricted its application.

However, the number of cases increased under the administration of Democrat Barack Obama in the context of investigations into immigration fraud linked to terrorism. According to the Migration Policy Institute, in 2023 there were about 25 million naturalized citizens in the United States, and more than 40% naturalized after 2010.

Although no quota or timetable has been set for the implementation of these procedures, the directive represents a new turn in U.S. immigration policy, expanding the spectrum of individuals vulnerable to loss of citizenship and deportation.