DOJ prioritizes stripping citizenship

Summary

A June 11, 2025 DOJ Civil Division memo directed attorneys to prioritize and maximally pursue civil denaturalization, naming it a top-five enforcement priority with broad criteria. In December 2025, a document circulated to USCIS said the administration wanted to denaturalize 100 to 200 people per month in 2026.

What happened

On June 11, 2025, the DOJ Civil Division issued a memo directing attorneys to prioritize and maximally pursue civil denaturalization, listing it among the division's top five priorities with broad criteria. A document circulated to USCIS in December 2025 said the administration wanted to denaturalize 100 to 200 people per month in 2026. In civil proceedings, a law professor told NPR, the person facing denaturalization is not entitled to an attorney and the government faces a lower burden of proof.

Impact on the United States

The effort pursues revoking the citizenship of naturalized Americans through civil proceedings, in which, a law professor told NPR, there is no right to an attorney and the government's burden of proof is lower. Close to 25 million immigrants were naturalized US citizens as of 2023.

Documented effects

1. Jun 2025Civil denaturalization named a top-five DOJ Civil Division priority[1][2]
2. Dec 2025December 2025 guidance circulated to USCIS set a goal of 100-200 denaturalization cases per month in 2026[4]
3. Close to 25 million immigrants were naturalized US citizens as of 2023[1]
4. Aug 6, 2026A White House fact sheet said the administration had 'filed claims against 88 individuals who received U.S. citizenship but were ineligible.'[6]
5. Aug 13, 2026Federal prosecutors filed complaints seeking to strip citizenship from 25 naturalized Americans in early August 2026, more than the Biden administration filed in four years; such cases had averaged fewer than 10 a year.[5]

Why this is rated severe

Makes civil denaturalization a top DOJ priority, with a stated goal of 100-200 cases a month and 25 complaints filed in early August 2026, in proceedings with a lower burden of proof; close to 25 million immigrants are naturalized citizens.

DOJ filed 25 denaturalization complaints in early August 2026; the White House said claims had been filed against 88 people

Corrections & updates [5]

Every change to a fact on this page after publication is logged here, newest first.

1. Sep 29, 2026CorrectedSource

   The 100-200 cases per month figure was credited to NPR's June 30, 2025 article, which does not contain it. It comes from guidance circulated to USCIS in December 2025, first reported by The New York Times, which set a goal of 100-200 denaturalization cases per month in 2026. The effect's date and source have been corrected.[4]

2. Sep 29, 2026UpdatedFigure

   Updated: federal prosecutors filed denaturalization complaints against 25 people in early August 2026, more than the Biden administration filed in four years (PBS NewsHour), and the White House said the administration had filed claims against 88 people.[5][6]

   Previously

   in-effect

   Now

   in-effect (DOJ filed 25 denaturalization complaints in early August 2026; the White House said claims had been filed against 88 people)

3. Sep 29, 2026CorrectedFigure

   Corrected: the entry said USCIS sought 100-200 denaturalization cases per month. NPR reported that a document circulated to USCIS said the administration wanted to denaturalize 100 to 200 people per month in 2026 and that USCIS should work with the Justice Department to meet that quota. The 'roughly 25 million' figure is NPR's: close to 25 million immigrants were naturalized citizens as of 2023. The statement that the effort 'renders citizenship conditional' is a characterization no source makes and was removed; the lower burden of proof and lack of an appointed attorney are now attributed to a law professor quoted by NPR.[1][4]

4. Sep 29, 2026ClarifiedSeverity rationale

   Replaced 'systemic threat' with the documented policy and figures. Severity unchanged.

   + Show previous and current text- Hide previous and current text

   Previously

   Severity 4 reflects the systemic threat to citizenship security for roughly 25 million naturalized Americans.

   Now

   Makes civil denaturalization a top DOJ priority, with a stated goal of 100-200 cases a month and 25 complaints filed in early August 2026, in proceedings with a lower burden of proof; close to 25 million immigrants are naturalized citizens.

5. Sep 29, 2026ClarifiedDisplay copy

   Attributed the description of civil denaturalization proceedings to the law professor quoted by NPR, as the record does.

   + Show previous and current text- Hide previous and current text

   Previously

   The June 11, 2025 DOJ Civil Division memo ordered attorneys to prioritize civil denaturalization, which carries a lower burden of proof and no appointed counsel. A document circulated to USCIS in December 2025 set a goal of 100-200 denaturalizations a month in 2026. Close to 25 million Americans are naturalized citizens.

   Now

   The June 11, 2025 DOJ Civil Division memo ordered attorneys to prioritize civil denaturalization, which, a law professor told NPR, carries a lower burden of proof and no right to an attorney. A document circulated to USCIS in December 2025 set a goal of 100-200 denaturalizations a month in 2026. Close to 25 million Americans are naturalized citizens.

Sources [6]