The administration of Donald Trump is advancing plans to revoke the citizenship of some foreign-born Americans, with officials reportedly targeting 100 to 200 denaturalization cases each month in 2026.
According to a recent report, guidance issued in December 2025 directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, to provide the Office of Immigration Litigation with between 100 and 200 denaturalization cases per month throughout the year.
Implementation of the directive is now underway. Agency specialists are said to be visiting field offices across the country and reassigning personnel to review previously approved naturalization applications to determine whether any cases warrant denaturalization proceedings.
Historically, revoking citizenship has been uncommon. Data from the Brennan Center for Justice indicates that from 1990 to 2017, an average of just 11 denaturalization cases were filed annually. Under U.S. law, citizenship is generally revoked only in limited situations, such as when it was obtained through fraud or significant misrepresentation during the application process.
Matthew Tragesser, a spokesperson for USCIS, said the administration’s focus is on cases supported by credible evidence of fraud.
“We maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward fraud in the naturalization process and will pursue denaturalization proceedings for any individual who lied or misrepresented themselves,” Tragesser said, adding that the agency would continue working with the Department of Justice to ensure that only those who meet legal standards retain U.S. citizenship. He previously characterized the initiative as part of a broader “war on fraud.”
In 2024, about 26 million naturalized citizens were residing in the United States, and over the past decade, USCIS reports it has naturalized more than 7.9 million individuals.
A June 2025 memorandum from the U.S. Department of Justice stated that President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi would prioritize and aggressively pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases allowed by law and backed by evidence. Officials have suggested that individuals considered potential national security threats or those accused of obtaining citizenship through material misrepresentation could face action.
However, immigration lawyers and advocacy organizations have expressed concern that the broader guidance could significantly expand denaturalization efforts, potentially impacting more citizens than in previous years.
