Federal Government Intensifies Controversial Citizenship Revocation Plan

WHO:

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Cassandra Robertson (law professor), Stacey Young (former DOJ lawyer), Daniel Kanstroom (law professor), Amanda Frost (law professor), Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate.

WHAT:

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The Trump administration is ramping up the denaturalization process, aiming to file at least 250 denaturalization cases in federal court by October.

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The Justice Department has moved to revoke the citizenship of nearly 90 people since the start of 2025.

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The administration is on pace to pursue more denaturalization cases than any other in recent modern American history, with 102 cases filed during Trump's first term and 24 cases during Biden's four years.

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The DOJ has won at least 19 of the denaturalization cases filed under Trump.

WHERE:

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The denaturalization cases are being filed in federal court across the United States.

WHEN:

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The Trump administration's denaturalization push began within a week of taking office in 2025.

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The DOJ has filed at least 89 denaturalization cases as of July 22, 2026.

WHY:

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The Trump administration claims it is targeting criminals and fraudsters who should not have become citizens, framing the campaign as an effort to preserve the integrity of the naturalization process.

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The administration's denaturalization push is part of a broader immigration enforcement agenda.

HOW:

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - The DOJ's civil division has been ordered to prioritize denaturalization cases, enlisting the help of U.S. attorney’s offices nationwide to boost case numbers.

[11:34 a.m. ET] - USA Today - Denaturalization cases are pursued under federal law, which allows the government to ask a judge to revoke citizenship obtained through fraud or misrepresentation.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 16:18 UTC)

President Trump is intensifying the denaturalization process, with plans to file at least 250 cases in federal court by October, marking a significant push since the administration began this initiative shortly after taking office in 2025. The Justice Department has already moved to revoke the citizenship of nearly 90 individuals, winning at least 19 of these cases, and is on track to surpass the number of denaturalization cases filed during both Trump's first term and Biden's administration. This effort, framed as a means to uphold the integrity of the naturalization process, is part of a broader immigration enforcement agenda, with the DOJ prioritizing these cases and collaborating with U.S. attorney’s offices across the country.