The Trump administration is pushing to set a monthly quota for denaturalizing naturalized American citizens, targeting 100 to 200 cases in 2026. This initiative aims to accelerate the removal of individuals accused of fraud in their naturalization process. Critics warn it could create widespread fear among immigrants.
The Trump administration has circulated a document to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlining plans to denaturalize between 100 and 200 naturalized citizens each month starting in 2026. The proposal calls for collaboration with the Department of Justice to achieve this target, focusing on those who allegedly lied or misrepresented facts during naturalization. Although the administration has pursued denaturalizations before, this quota system marks a new approach.
USCIS spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser emphasized that the priority is on cases involving proven misrepresentation. The document, first reported by The New York Times, reflects broader efforts to address unlawful citizenships. In June, the Department of Justice issued guidance to prioritize such actions, building on tools developed under President Barack Obama to detect fraud.
Historically, denaturalization has been rare, often applied to war criminals like Nazis who concealed their pasts, according to Elizabeth Taufa of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco. During Trump's first term, only about 170 cases reached courts, per an analysis by Hofstra University's National Immigration Forum.
Taufa described meeting the proposed quota as a 'Herculean undertaking,' potentially requiring corner-cutting and disregarding legal precedents. She highlighted the 'chilling effect' these policies create, instilling fear in naturalized citizens and those eligible to apply. Immigration experts and advocates anticipate legal challenges to these plans.
