U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is preparing to expand efforts aimed at revoking citizenship from naturalized Americans who are found to have obtained that status through fraud, according to reporting on an internal plan now being implemented. The initiative is expected to be led by USCIS Director Joe Edlow and would significantly increase the number of denaturalization cases referred each month to the agency’s Office of Immigration Litigation, potentially ranging from 100 to 200 cases monthly. If carried out as described, the scale of the effort would represent a notable increase compared with recent years, when denaturalization cases were filed far less frequently.
Under federal law, denaturalization is permitted only in limited circumstances, primarily when citizenship was obtained through fraud or willful misrepresentation, or under a small number of other narrowly defined conditions. Reporting notes that between 2017 and the present, just over 120 denaturalization cases were filed in total, based on Justice Department data. By contrast, the proposed monthly referral rate would substantially accelerate enforcement activity. According to the report, “If the cases are successful, it would represent a massive escalation of denaturalization in the modern era, experts said. By comparison, between 2017 and this year to date, there had been just over 120 cases filed, according to the Justice Department.”
The same report also highlighted concerns raised by immigration advocates about the scope of such an effort. It stated: “Under federal law, people may be denaturalized only if they committed fraud while applying for citizenship, or in a few other narrow circumstances. But the Trump administration has shown a zeal for using every tool at its disposal to target legal and illegal immigrants, leading activists to warn that such a campaign could sweep up people who had made honest mistakes on their citizenship paperwork and sow fear among law-abiding Americans.” The administration, however, has emphasized that the focus remains on intentional fraud rather than clerical errors or lawful applications.
USCIS officials have framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to enforce existing law and ensure the integrity of the naturalization process. “It’s no secret that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ war on fraud includes prioritizing those who’ve unlawfully obtained U.S. citizenship — especially under the previous administration,” said Matthew J. Tragesser, a U.S.C.I.S. spokesman. “We will pursue denaturalization proceedings for those individuals lying or misrepresenting themselves during the naturalization process. We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Justice to restore integrity to America’s immigration system.” The agency has indicated that cases would continue to be reviewed individually and referred for litigation only when statutory thresholds are met.
The renewed emphasis on denaturalization comes after a period of historically high naturalization numbers. In fewer than four years, nearly 3.5 million foreign nationals were granted U.S. citizenship, a total that researchers at the Migration Policy Institute have described as “by far the most [naturalizations] of any single presidential term.” For context, that figure exceeds the combined number of naturalizations under Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. Supporters of stricter screening argue that higher application volumes can strain adjudication systems, while critics caution against retroactive enforcement actions that could affect long-settled citizens.
Edlow has previously raised concerns about procedural changes that shortened parts of the naturalization process, including adjustments intended to accelerate case throughput. In a prior interview, he emphasized the importance of thorough review over speed, stating, “I don’t believe we should have quotas for how many naturalizations we do, how many adjustments we do. I want to make sure that the adjudicators are taking the proper amount of time to really screen and vet these individuals to make the determination that they are, in fact, qualified for the benefits that they are applying, including and most importantly, for naturalization.” As the expanded denaturalization effort moves forward, its implementation is likely to draw continued attention from lawmakers, courts, and immigrant communities, particularly regarding how fraud is defined and proven under existing law.
