The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has unveiled a sweeping new directive that could impact up to 25 million naturalized U.S. citizens, as part of a renewed focus on civil denaturalization proceedings. The policy, outlined in a memo dated June 11, prioritizes the revocation of citizenship from individuals who allegedly obtained it through fraud, misrepresentation, or who have since been convicted of serious crimes.
The DOJ memo instructs federal attorneys to pursue civil cases against individuals who “illegally procured” naturalization or did so by “concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.” Unlike criminal trials, civil denaturalization does not guarantee the right to legal representation, and the government faces a lower burden of proof.
According to 2023 data, approximately 25 million U.S. citizens were born abroad and later naturalized, placing them within the scope of this policy. While the DOJ emphasizes that the directive targets only those who pose a threat or obtained citizenship unlawfully, immigrant advocacy groups have raised concerns about the breadth of the policy and the lack of legal safeguards in civil proceedings.
“This is not about punishing people for past mistakes—it’s about protecting the integrity of our immigration system and national security,” a DOJ spokesperson stated.