The Trump administration is stepping up efforts to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized Americans, with data showing a major increase in denaturalization lawsuits filed this year. At least 105 civil denaturalization lawsuits were filed in federal district courts during the first seven months of 2026, including 50 filed in July alone, according to data published by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. TRAC previously reported that roughly 125 such lawsuits were filed nationwide between 2008 and 2025.
The figures show a significant increase in the government's use of denaturalization proceedings, a civil legal process through which federal authorities seek to revoke citizenship that has already been granted. The Justice Department has made denaturalization a priority under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can identify and investigate potential cases, the Justice Department generally must initiate civil litigation to revoke a person's citizenship.
Such cases typically allege that a person obtained citizenship through fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material facts during the naturalization process. If the government prevails, the person can lose their U.S. citizenship and potentially face removal proceedings, depending on their circumstances. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Justice for comment via email.
Because denaturalization cases are filed in federal court, judges must determine whether the government has met the legal burden required to revoke citizenship. Individuals targeted by such lawsuits can challenge the allegations and retain legal representation throughout the proceedings. "The current pace of denaturalization litigation is extraordinarily high," Ricky Murray, a former senior USCIS official, told Newsweek.
"This increase reflects a perfect storm of additional personnel, enhanced technology, new agency policies, and a government-wide emphasis on reviewing prior adjudications." USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler told Newsweek that the agency "has a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who lies or misrepresents themselves during the naturalization process." "Under the leadership of President Trump, USCIS is protecting public safety by more thoroughly screening and vetting all aliens. USCIS is working with the Department of Justice to aggressively pursue and recommend denaturalization of anyone who obtained citizenship through fraud. We will not take any shortcuts and continue to protect the American people from those who attempt to defraud them," he continued.
In June 2025, the Justice Department's Civil Division issued guidance directing attorneys to "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence." The guidance identified cases involving fraud or willful misrepresentation in obtaining citizenship, certain criminal conduct and national security concerns among the circumstances that could warrant denaturalization. TRAC reported that lawsuits were filed in at least 37 states and the District of Columbia between January and July. Florida recorded the highest number of cases, with 19 filings during the first seven months of the year, followed by Texas and Maryland with 10 each.
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