The United States government is stepping up efforts to revoke citizenship from certain naturalised Americans, following the emergence of a Justice Department memo that directs federal attorneys to prioritise civil denaturalisation cases against individuals who committed specific crimes or gained citizenship through deceit.
The memo, dated June 11 and reported by The Guardian on Monday, instructs federal prosecutors to pursue civil proceedings against individuals who “illegally procured” U.S. citizenship or did so through the “concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.”
This marks a renewed push under a shifting Justice Department agenda, and it could impact a significant portion of the estimated 25 million U.S. citizens who immigrated to the country and later naturalised.
Unlike criminal proceedings, those facing civil denaturalisation are not entitled to legal representation, and the government has a lower burden of proof to strip an individual of their citizenship. The memo outlines ten priority categories for denaturalisation, including: Individuals involved in war crimes or human rights abuses, naturalised persons affiliated with gangs or organised crime and those convicted of serious crimes posing an “ongoing threat” to public safety.
The Justice Department’s civil rights division has been placed at the forefront of these efforts. It has also been central to several controversial policy moves under the current administration, including targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and restricting transgender healthcare access.
The division’s new direction has caused internal upheaval. According to a report by National Public Radio, about 70% of its lawyers, roughly 250 attorneys—left the department between January and May 2025, signalling discontent with the shifting priorities.
Other recent actions by the civil rights division include: Investigating and pressuring universities, such as the University of Virginia, over their DEI practices.
UVA President Jim Ryan resigned last Friday amid such scrutiny. Filing lawsuits against 15 district attorneys in Maryland for delaying the deportation of immigrants challenging their removal orders.
Meanwhile, concerns continue to rise over U.S. immigration enforcement practices. The 13th in-custody death under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was reported for the current fiscal year, already surpassing last year’s total of 12.
The renewed focus on denaturalisation, particularly via civil proceedings where fewer protections exist for the accused, has drawn concern from immigration rights advocates and legal experts who warn that it could create a chilling effect among naturalised citizens and immigrants navigating the complex path to legal citizenship.
