Who will Be denaturalised — and who won't: Trump administration draws the line in Justice Department memo

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Who Is Eligible for Naturalisation?
Categories at Risk: The 10 Denaturalisation Priorities
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Individuals who obtained citizenship through false statements or document fraud;
Persons convicted of war crimes, genocide, or other human rights violations;
Naturalized individuals with ties to terrorism or organised crime;
Those convicted of serious financial fraud, including medical fraud or immigration scams;
Individuals who concealed prior deportation orders or failed to disclose critical criminal history.
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Broader Civil Rights Concerns
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In a major policy signal with lasting implications for the future of US citizenship, the Trump administration has laid out clear parameters for who qualifies for naturalisation, and who may face denaturalization . A newly published memo from the Department of Justice, dated June 11, outlines a shift towards heightened scrutiny and enforcement against naturalized citizens suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud, concealment, or criminal acts, as mentioned in a report by The Guardian.The move effectively sharpens the government's criteria for who will be naturalised in the future and who may be at risk of losing their US citizenship—part of a broader immigration realignment under President Trump's second-term agenda.While the basic eligibility for naturalisation remains unchanged—requiring lawful permanent residency, continuous residence, good moral character, and knowledge of English and US civics—the memo signals stricter enforcement post-naturalisation. Immigration attorneys believe this reflects a shift toward not just assessing qualifications at the time of application, but retrospectively reviewing them years later.'The concern now is not just whether someone can be naturalised, but whether they can remain naturalised,' said Sameera Hafiz, policy director of the Immigration Legal Resource Center.The memo lists ten priority categories of naturalized citizens for potential denaturalization, as per the report by The Guardian. These include:The memo also empowers Justice Department attorneys to initiate civil denaturalization proceedings—which, unlike criminal trials, do not guarantee the right to an attorney and require a lower burden of proof.One of the most significant procedural changes is the reliance on civil litigation to revoke citizenship. 'This is a quiet but significant shift,' said a senior immigration litigator. 'Civil cases move faster, require less evidence, and don't give people the right to court-appointed lawyers. That's a dangerous mix for naturalized citizens.'Notably, naturalized citizens—unlike birthright citizens—can face denaturalization if authorities find that their original application omitted crucial facts or contained false statements, even unintentionally.On June 13, a US judge revoked the citizenship of Elliott Duke, a military veteran originally from the UK, after it was revealed that Duke had concealed a past conviction involving child sexual abuse materials. Though his military service was not disputed, the Department of Justice argued that Duke's failure to disclose this history during his application rendered his naturalization fraudulent.Observers believe this case sets a precedent for broader enforcement in years to come.According to government data, over 25 million Americans are naturalized citizens—immigrants who obtained US citizenship after being born abroad. The Justice Department's memo has raised alarms among this demographic, as even decades-old infractions could now be reviewed under this expanding denaturalisation policy.The memo is part of a larger transformation of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, which is now being used to advance Trump administration goals such as ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and challenging race-based policies in education and hiring.In one instance, the department recently initiated legal action against 15 US district attorneys in Maryland for delaying deportations. Meanwhile, the resignation of the University of Virginia President Jim Ryan has been linked to an ongoing investigation by the Civil Rights Division over race-conscious scholarship policies.Amid these upheavals, nearly 70% of lawyers in the division—approximately 250 attorneys—have reportedly exited the department since January.While the pathway to US naturalization remains open, the post-citizenship landscape is clearly shifting. Immigration lawyers now advise applicants to be meticulous in documentation, transparent in disclosures, and proactive in legal counsel—especially given the growing emphasis on post-facto investigations.'This memo is not just about removing bad actors,' Hafiz cautioned. 'It sets the tone for how we define belonging in America.'The memo, dated June 11, outlines a tougher stance on both granting and retaining U.S. citizenship. It emphasizes post-naturalisation enforcement, allowing the government to pursue denaturalization of individuals suspected of fraud, criminal activity, or concealment during the naturalisation process.The basic eligibility criteria—lawful permanent residency, continuous U.S. residence, good moral character, and English/civics knowledge—remain the same. However, the new policy introduces tighter scrutiny both before and after citizenship is granted.