DOJ deploys tactic to strip naturalized Americans of citizenship

Federal prosecutors recently sought to revoke citizenship from 25 naturalized Americans, accusing them of providing false information and concealing serious criminal activities. Known as denaturalization, this process has become a top priority for the Justice Department. Justice correspondent Ali Rogin discussed the sudden increase in denaturalization complaints with Cassandra Burke Robertson, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University.

According to Robertson, the Trump administration has significantly increased the use of denaturalization compared to the Biden administration. Robertson explained that the Trump administration has used denaturalization as a political tool, targeting individuals who have expressed opinions that may have angered the government. This approach differs from previous administrations, which generally used denaturalization in cases involving national security concerns.

Robertson noted that, historically, denaturalization cases were rare, with less than 10 cases filed annually. However, the current administration is pursuing cases based on past events, even those that occurred decades ago. The process of denaturalization involves a federal court trial where the government must prove that the individual's misstatement during the naturalization process was material and would have prevented their citizenship if known.