Justice Department Seeks Denaturalisation of Ten Criminal Immigrants

In one of the largest single-day denaturalisation actions in recent memory, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed civil complaints to revoke the citizenship of ten naturalised Americans convicted of serious crimes ranging from child sexual abuse to cocaine trafficking and large-scale Medicare fraud. The suits, lodged in nine federal districts, allege that each individual obtained naturalisation by concealing arrests, aliases or prior unlawful conduct. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche framed the move as part of “the largest denaturalisation effort ever,” signalling that DOJ will pursue more cases. The Immigration and Nationality Act allows revocation when citizenship was “illegally procured” or obtained through material misrepresentation. While denaturalisation is still rare—averaging fewer than 60 cases a year—the Trump administration has expanded the dedicated inter-agency task force launched in 2025 to identify problematic cases through enhanced fingerprint and data-matching. Business-immigration attorneys stress that legitimate naturalisation applicants are unlikely to be affected; however, the announcements may heighten scrutiny during N-400 interviews, particularly for applicants who previously pleaded guilty to minor offenses that could implicate “good moral character.” Employers with long-time foreign-born executives should ensure thorough document preservation should questions about past disclosures arise. Critics contend that DOJ is deploying denaturalisation as a political tool, noting that several defendants’ crimes pre-date their naturalisation by more than a decade. Civil-rights groups fear a chilling effect, with lawful residents hesitating to apply for citizenship. The government counters that every case involves willful fraud and that revocation is followed by removal proceedings handled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Practical takeaway: naturalised employees whose background checks revealed sealed or expunged convictions should consult counsel before international travel, as a revoked passport or Certificate of Citizenship could create immediate re-entry issues. Companies may wish to update compliance manuals to include denaturalisation as a potential workforce risk factor.