The Government of Donald Trump announced that it will seek to strip naturalized immigrants of their U.S. citizenship if they have committed fraud during their regularization processes.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, confirmed that the Republican administration will use “all legal avenues” available to denaturalize those who obtained citizenship illegally, as part of a strategy aimed at ensuring compliance with the law and protecting the integrity of the system.
“U.S. citizenship is a privilege and must be earned honestly. If you come here, break our laws, and lie in your immigration procedures, you lose that privilege,” Mullin stated via the social media platform X, referring to the initiative.
President Donald Trump
The official's stance came after details emerged about the government's plans to advance against specific cases of immigration fraud.
According to reports, the Trump administration is initially targeting a group of 17 U.S. citizens born abroad who allegedly obtained their status through false statements or deliberate omissions.
The administration emphasizes that the measure aims not only to correct irregularities but also to prevent the system from being exploited by individuals with criminal backgrounds.
In this regard, Mullin warned that his department will not remain “idle while Americans are harmed by criminals,” referring to cases involving sex offenders, drug traffickers, and fraudsters.
American flag
The official was emphatic in stating that some individuals “have exploited the generosity of the U.S. and taken advantage of its immigration system,” reinforcing the need to proceed with legal mechanisms to review and, if necessary, reverse naturalizations obtained improperly.
This policy is part of a broader tightening of immigration measures pushed by Trump since his return to the White House in January 2025, aimed at strengthening internal security and reestablishing clear rules in the processes of entry and residency in the country.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has also aligned with this strategy. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche anticipated that there will be “zero tolerance” for any attempt to abuse the naturalization system.
“There are foreign criminals who lie about their past crimes, including drug traffickers, sexual predators, and scammers,” he stated.
If the ongoing procedures advance, the investigated immigrants would lose their citizenship and revert to their previous immigration status, which would also entail the loss of associated rights, such as protection against deportation.
These actions are key to preserving the transparency of the immigration system and ensuring that access to U.S. citizenship is based on compliance with the law, also sending a clear signal about the consequences of immigration fraud.
