Trump denaturalization plan to revoke citizenships

The administration of President Donald Trump has launched a plan to significantly increase denaturalization proceedings in the United States, a move that could impact thousands of naturalized citizens.

According to a report by The New York Times, the new internal guidelines mark a substantial shift in the use of this legal tool, which has historically been applied only in exceptional cases.

The outlet reports that the government aims to expand, in an unprecedented way, the review of citizenships granted in previous years under the argument of combating immigration fraud, although it has not publicly detailed the specific criteria that will be used to select cases.

New United States citizenship guidelines and unprecedented figures

📌 Trump government imposes quotas to strip U.S. citizenship from naturalized Americans, according to The New York Times.

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Internal instructions from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) establish that its offices must refer between 100 and 200 cases per month to the Department of Justice during fiscal year 2026.

This figure represents a dramatic increase compared to the historical average, which has been only about a dozen denaturalization cases per year.

Denaturalization is a legal process that allows the government to revoke U.S. citizenship when it is proven that it was obtained through fraud or by concealing relevant information during the naturalization process.

So far, official data show that revocations have been minimal when compared to the hundreds of thousands of people who obtain U.S. citizenship each year.

Part of a broader immigration strategy

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The New York Times notes that these guidelines are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to toughen immigration policies.

Within this framework are travel restrictions, temporary visa suspensions, and measures affecting citizenship processes for people from certain non-European countries.

USCIS spokespersons have indicated that the official goal of the Trump denaturalization plan is to combat immigration fraud.

However, concrete parameters determining which naturalized citizens could face denaturalization proceedings have not yet been disclosed, generating concern among immigration specialists.

Concern among civil rights advocates

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK. Trump denaturalization plan to revoke citizenships

Civil rights organizations and specialized immigration attorneys have warned that a massive expansion of these processes could create a climate of fear and uncertainty among millions of naturalized citizens.

According to these groups, the possibility of reopening old files could lead many people to see basic rights—previously considered guaranteed—called into question.

Experts cited by The New York Times emphasize that, historically, denaturalization has been an exceptional measure precisely to prevent abuse and protect the legal stability of those who have already acquired citizenship.

The central concern is that broader use of this tool could disrupt that balance.

For now, it remains unclear how the plan will be implemented or how many people could ultimately be affected.

What is clear is that the announcement marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy and opens a debate about the limits of the state’s power to revoke citizenship.