Justice Department to prioritize revoking citizenship of naturalized Americans: what to know

The US Department of Justice has begun to prioritize stripping naturalized Americans of their citizenship when charged with crimes, according to a recent memo. This move ramps up the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which has expanded to target legal permanent residents and citizens. The DOJ directed attorneys to prioritize denaturalization in cases where naturalized citizens commit crimes, including war crimes, human rights abuses, and terrorism. The memo calls for "civil denaturalization" in these cases, citing the need to protect the US from ongoing threats. Naturalized citizens must undergo an involved application process, meeting eligibility criteria such as being a lawful permanent resident for at least five years and having knowledge of US history and government. From 1990-2017, the DOJ filed 305 denaturalization cases, but the number has surged since President Trump's first term. The USCIS has selected over 2,500 cases for possible denaturalization and referred at least 110 cases to the Justice Department for prosecution. The DOJ's guidance change prioritizes denaturalization as one of the agency's top five enforcement priorities. However, critics argue that the DOJ's pursuit of denaturalization cases violates due process and infringes on the rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. The denaturalization push has also raised concerns about policing immigrants' free speech rights, particularly in cases involving alleged antisemitism.