Resources
Publication Date
12/21/2018
In the past, denaturalization proceedings were rare and usually brought only against alleged war criminals and in other extreme cases. However, continuing their assault on immigrants, families, and communities of color, the Trump administration has increased resources dedicated to pursuing denaturalization in an effort to strip citizenship from naturalized citizens and there are concerns this number will continue to grow. This practice advisory will briefly describe these recent efforts to increase denaturalizations, the legal grounds and process for denaturalizing a citizen, and the consequences of denaturalization.
Webinar
Denaturalization proceedings are rare, however, under the current administration there has been an increased emphasis and dedication of resources towards these cases. While the absolute number of denaturalization cases per year remains low, there is a fear that these efforts will have a chilling effect on the number of legal permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship. During this session, learn more about recent efforts to increase denaturalization cases, the legal grounds and process for denaturalizing a citizen, the consequences of denaturalization, and how to reduce the risk of denaturalization through red flag screening during the naturalization process.
Resources
Publication Date
08/05/2025
Recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a memo listing out its priorities for civil enforcement cases. In that memo, the DOJ states that it will be focusing on denaturalization cases. This memo - along with statements made by administration officials and members of congress - has sparked a lot of attention on denaturalization and questions about who could be denaturalized. This has caused a lot of fear and uncertainty in communities, but denaturalization is not as straightforward as you might think.
Resources
Publication Date
04/07/2020
The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice are ramping up efforts to investigate U.S. citizens and pursue denaturalization cases. This will result in many U.S. citizens being denaturalized and losing their citizenship. These efforts will have a chilling effect on the number of legal permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship and will further burden a system that is already delayed in adjudicating and granting immigration benefits. This Practice Advisory reviews the present state of denaturalization and revocation of citizenship. It thoroughly reviews the statutes and caselaw to date in denaturalization and revocation of citizenship. Practitioners handling these cases will find this Practice Advisory to be very useful when defending U.S. citizens who are under the threat of having their citizenship torn away from them.
Resources
Publication Date
09/17/2018
This resource, co-created by the ACLU and ILRC, discusses the Trump administration's denaturalization operation and describes the process of denaturalization, who the targets are and the number of cases as well as the historical context for these efforts.
Resources
Publication Date
10/27/2021
The ILRC, along with 96 international and national organizations, urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to halt the use of denaturalization, a racialized and criminalizing tactic to determine who belongs in the United States.
Webinar
This advanced webinar will focus on significant aspects of the law that tend to be overlooked: the loss of American citizenship and its potentially painful consequences, not only for the naturalized citizen who got it unlawfully or others who abandon it voluntarily, but also for relatives who might have acquired or could acquire an immigration benefit through them. We will examine the grounds for and procedures related to denaturalization and the acts under INA §349 that may be construed as a voluntary abandonment.
Webinar
This advanced webinar will focus on significant aspects of the law that tend to be overlooked: the loss of American citizenship and its potentially painful consequences, not only for the naturalized citizen who got it unlawfully or others who abandon it voluntarily, but also for relatives who might have acquired or could acquire an immigration benefit through them.
Webinar
This option allows you to register for the two Naturalization webinars at a discounted price.