DOJ Memo Signals Aggressive Push to Revoke U.S. Citizenship from

In a striking shift in immigration enforcement, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is directing federal prosecutors to aggressively pursue denaturalization cases against naturalized U.S. citizens who have committed certain crimes or made misrepresentations during their naturalization process. The directive comes from a DOJ memo dated June 11, signed by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, and made publicly available this week.

The memo grants U.S. attorneys broad discretion to initiate proceedings to revoke citizenship in cases that align with the administration’s immigration policy objectives. While the priority remains on individuals who pose a potential threat to national security, the scope is far wider — including those accused of human rights violations, human trafficking, and even procedural or documentation errors made during the naturalization process.

“The Civil Division shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence,” Shumate wrote.

Immigration attorneys warn that this marks a significant departure from longstanding practice. Rosanna Berardi, a veteran immigration lawyer, told ABC News:

“The memo clearly signals that DOJ is going to pursue more of these cases — and not just against terrorists or war criminals. Even cases involving undisclosed criminal records or minor errors during the citizenship process are now under scrutiny. In my 28 years of practice, this level of enforcement is unprecedented.”

Historically, denaturalization has been rare. A 2020 report by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center showed that the federal government pursued an average of just 11 denaturalization cases per year from 1990 to 2017. That number jumped significantly during Trump’s first term, with USCIS referring over 1,600 cases to the DOJ for potential prosecution in 2018 alone.

The memo also outlines other DOJ priorities, including actions targeting antisemitism and legal challenges against sanctuary cities and states.

Legal experts anticipate a rise in fear and uncertainty within immigrant communities, particularly among naturalized citizens who worry that even minor mistakes in their application process could now be grounds for losing their status.