DOJ Plans At Least 250 Denaturalization Cases In 2026 Fiscal Year
On June 18, 2026, a Justice Department official said the department plans at least 250 denaturalization cases in fiscal year 2026, which ends Sept. 30.[1]
The official said the government has already filed several dozen denaturalization lawsuits in recent weeks under expanded Trump-era priorities.[1] Naturalized citizens found to have obtained citizenship illegally can lose that status, revert to prior immigration status and face deportation.
President Trump issued an executive order in January 2025 directing the State Department, Justice Department, Homeland Security and intelligence agencies to identify violations of the naturalization process. On June 11, 2025, the DOJ Civil Division issued a memo making denaturalization one of its top five civil enforcement priorities and directing lawyers to prioritize such cases. In December 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told field offices to refer 100 to 200 denaturalization cases per month to the Justice Department for fiscal year 2026. By April 2026, the department had identified 384 foreign-born Americans it wanted to revoke citizenship from as part of the expanded effort.
From 1990 to 2017, the United States averaged about 11 denaturalization filings per year, mostly against human rights abusers and violent criminals. During the Biden administration (2021-2024), the Justice Department filed an average of fewer than four denaturalization complaints per year. Observers noted the 250-case target would exceed total denaturalization filings over the previous 18 years combined. They also warned the lower burden of proof and the absence of a right to counsel could greatly expand enforcement reach.
The mainstream summary does not highlight the unprecedented nature of the DOJ's planned 250 denaturalization cases, which exceeds the total filings over the previous 18 years combined. This sharp escalation signals a significant shift in immigration enforcement priorities, as noted by social media commentators who emphasize the historical context of denaturalization complaints, with only 166 filed between 2008 and mid-2026. Furthermore, the summary downplays the implications of the lower burden of proof and the absence of a right to counsel in these proceedings, which could substantially broaden the enforcement reach against naturalized citizens. Observers have pointed out that this approach may result in a more aggressive targeting of individuals, particularly those accused of immigration fraud or criminal activity, framing it as the largest such program ever undertaken by the DOJ.
Additionally, while the summary mentions the DOJ's identification of 384 foreign-born Americans for potential citizenship revocation, it does not connect this figure to the broader context of the Trump administration's directives to prioritize denaturalization. This directive aims to uphold the integrity of the naturalization process, as stated in a memo by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, which underscores the administration's commitment to addressing perceived threats from individuals who may have obtained citizenship through fraudulent means. This context is crucial for understanding the motivations behind the DOJ's aggressive stance on denaturalization, which the mainstream summary fails to fully convey.
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📊 Relevant Data
During the Biden administration, the DOJ filed an average of fewer than 4 denaturalization complaints per year.
Denaturalization Lawsuits Jump in May and June 2026 — TRAC Reports
As of April 2026, the Justice Department had identified 384 foreign-born Americans whose citizenship it wanted to revoke as part of the expanded effort.
Justice Dept. Targets Hundreds of Citizens in New Push for Denaturalization — The New York Times
📌 Key Facts
- On June 18, 2026, a DOJ official said the department plans at least 250 denaturalization cases in fiscal year 2026, which ends September 30.
- The government has already filed several dozen denaturalization cases in recent weeks under the expanded Trump-era priorities.
- From 1990 to 2017, the U.S. averaged about 11 denaturalization filings per year, mainly against human rights abusers and violent criminals.
- Naturalized citizens found to have obtained citizenship illegally or fraudulently can lose citizenship, revert to prior status and face deportation.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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