Trump Administration Moves to Strip Citizenship From 17 Convicted Criminals in Intensifying Denaturalization Drive

Seventeen naturalized Americans convicted of crimes ranging from child sexual abuse to bank fraud are now facing efforts to lose their U.S. citizenship. New petitions mark the latest step in the Trump administration's growing use of denaturalization, a legal process that can cancel citizenship obtained through fraud, concealment or other disqualifying conduct.

Justice Department attorneys filed revocation cases against individuals originally from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica, India, Somalia, China, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines. Judicial papers describe offenses that include sexual abuse of minors, drug distribution, wire fraud and bank fraud.

The Department of Justice announced the filings Monday. Revoking citizenship years after naturalization remains unusual.

Judges must weigh evidence showing that naturalization was granted despite hidden facts or false statements. Prosecutors carry the burden of proving those allegations before citizenship can be revoked.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the filings as part of a larger campaign focused on preserving lawful naturalization. According to a Department of Justice announcement, "Gaining U.S. citizenship is a privilege," and individuals who concealed serious criminal conduct, including sexual offenses, drug crimes and fraud, should not retain citizenship obtained through unlawful means.

Terrorism ties, war crimes, espionage, sexual abuse and immigration fraud appeared in earlier denaturalization matters. Earlier Justice Department revocation cases targeted individuals accused of concealing terrorism ties, war crimes, espionage, sexual abuse and immigration fraud.

The 17 individuals named this week represent only part of a larger campaign. Numbers released by government officials suggest the effort extends beyond these 17 filings.

Recent reporting indicated that hundreds of cases have been referred for possible denaturalization review. That pace stands far above levels seen under prior practice.

Judges now hold the final say over whether citizenship certificates issued years ago remain valid or are permanently canceled. For the individuals named in these matters, the next stage will unfold in federal courtrooms where Justice Department attorneys must prove citizenship was secured through deception or other conduct that made naturalization legally invalid.