US Targets 40 Foreign-Born Citizens in Historic Denaturalization Drive

40 Foreign-Born Citizens Face Denaturalization Cases

The US Department of Justice has filed denaturalization actions against 40 foreign-born naturalized US citizens, calling it the largest single-period filing under the Trump administration. The cases, filed between August 21 and October 2, 2026, involve allegations ranging from immigration fraud to serious criminal offenses.

The individuals include people originally from Mexico, Pakistan, China, India and several other countries. The government is seeking to revoke their naturalized citizenship through federal court proceedings.

Why Is the US Pursuing Denaturalization?

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, naturalized citizenship can be revoked when it was illegally obtained or secured through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.

The 40 cases involve allegations including:

• Visa and immigration fraud
• False identities or information
• Tax fraud and evasion
• Fraudulent marriage
• Espionage
• Certain serious criminal offenses

The DOJ has emphasized that the complaints are based on alleged conduct affecting the individuals’ eligibility for naturalization. However, the allegations remain subject to the court process.

How Large Is the Denaturalization Push?

The latest filings mark a sharp increase in US citizenship revocation actions.

• 40 cases were filed between August 21 and October 2.
• At least 105 civil denaturalization suits were filed during the first seven months of 2026.
• The annual average was around 11 cases between 1990 and 2017, according to data cited by the Financial Express.

The DOJ has described the latest 40-case filing as the largest volume submitted in a single period under the Trump administration.

Can US Citizenship Be Revoked?

Yes, but citizenship is not automatically revoked simply because the DOJ files a case. Denaturalization proceedings must go through the federal court process, and the allegations in the complaints still have to be adjudicated.

The development is therefore different from routine immigration enforcement. It specifically concerns naturalized US citizens whose citizenship the government alleges was obtained unlawfully.

For immigrants who have progressed from a Green Card to US citizenship, the development highlights the importance of providing accurate and truthful information throughout the immigration and naturalization process.

The same principle applies much earlier in an immigration journey. Whether someone is pursuing employment-based immigration, a self-petition or researching an EB-1A best immigration consultant, accuracy and consistency in immigration filings remain critical.

For official information on denaturalization and the latest federal actions, visit the US Department of Justice.

Stay connected with Smart Immigrant for more updates on US immigration and policy changes.

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