In June 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a sweeping directive reviving and expanding the Trump-era focus on denaturalization - the process of revoking a person’s U.S. citizenship. While denaturalization has historically been reserved for egregious cases involving war criminals or large-scale immigration fraud, the current administration’s policy marks a significant and potentially alarming shift.
What Changed?
A June 11, 2025 DOJ memo placed denaturalization among the agency’s top five civil enforcement priorities. This marks a return to and expansion of efforts previously launched under the Trump administration through initiatives like Operation Janus and the former Denaturalization Section at DOJ.
The memo directs government attorneys to “prioritize and maximally pursue” denaturalization cases when there is evidence of fraud or concealment of material facts in the naturalization process. It encourages aggressive use of the civil denaturalization process, which notably does not require proof beyond a reasonable doubt and does not guarantee the accused a right to court-appointed counsel.
Who Is At Risk?
While the DOJ frames the policy as focused on those involved in terrorism, war crimes, or serious financial or gang-related criminal conduct, its language leaves broad discretion to pursue denaturalization in any case involving fraud or “moral character” concerns - even decades after naturalization.
Recent cases suggest that the policy may be used for:
- Individuals who failed to disclose minor criminal history on immigration applications;
- Naturalized citizens accused of associating with politically disfavored groups;
- Those whose past conduct is now being reexamined under new legal standards.
For example, one high-profile case involves a British-born U.S. veteran denaturalized for a prior child abuse conviction, and another controversy centers on efforts to revoke the citizenship of Zohran Mamdani, a New York politician, based on allegations of undisclosed associations.
Why This Matters
For many immigrants, naturalization marks the end of a long journey - often decades of lawful presence, taxes paid, families raised, and businesses built. But denaturalization threatens to undo that promise by treating citizenship as conditional, even many years after it is granted.
Civil denaturalization proceedings are particularly dangerous because:
- They use a lower “clear and convincing” evidence standard;
- There is no automatic right to counsel - meaning many accused citizens must defend themselves;
- A finding of fraud, even if minor or based on misunderstood questions, could lead to the loss of citizenship and removal.
What You Can Do
If you are a naturalized U.S. citizen, especially one with:
- Prior criminal history (even minor);
- Past immigration filings through a now-defunct or questionable sponsor;
- Involvement in high-profile or politically sensitive activity;
You should consult a qualified immigration attorney to review your file for any vulnerabilities.
At Mathur Law Offices, P.C., we are actively advising clients on:
- Reviewing old naturalization and green card filings;
- Assessing risk under the current DOJ enforcement memo;
- Preparing defense strategies and admissibility packets for those with past issues;
- Representing clients in complex denaturalization and deportation defense proceedings.
Final Thoughts
The Constitution provides that no American should lose their citizenship lightly. But the current political climate shows that even settled rights can be revisited. We urge our clients - particularly long-time green card holders or naturalized citizens - to take proactive steps now to protect their status and prepare for any challenges ahead.
If you believe your case may be affected or you simply want peace of mind, contact Mathur Law Offices, P.C. today.