The Trump administration wants to accelerate efforts to revoke American citizenship from individuals accused of naturalizing illegally, proposing a quota of 100 to 200 denaturalizations per month in 2026.
A document circulated within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) calls for closer coordination with the Department of Justice, according to reporting first published by The New York Times. USCIS said the focus is on people who lied during the naturalization process.
The move marks a significant expansion of denaturalization, a legal process historically used only in rare cases. “The traditional example was, like, Nazis who had lied about their Nazi membership,” said Elizabeth Taufa of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, noting that previous actions typically targeted war criminals. She warned the new policy could create fear among naturalized citizens and eligible immigrants.
Immigration law experts say the administration will likely face legal challenges, as carrying out hundreds of denaturalization cases monthly would require major resources. Under Trump’s first term, about 170 cases were sent to court, far below the newly proposed target.
Advocates argue the plan risks cutting legal corners and undermining trust in the citizenship system.