Record Number of Denaturalisation Petitions Filed
The United States Department of Justice filed 40 new cases seeking to strip naturalized Americans of their citizenship over alleged crimes. According to a federal prosecutors' statement on Monday, the petitions represent the largest volume of denaturalisation cases submitted in a short period under President Donald Trump, filed between late August and early October. [1]
Targeted Offenses and Background
Federal prosecutors stated they are targeting individuals accused of serious offenses including money laundering, visa fraud, tax evasion, child sexual abuse, and espionage. The Department of Justice alleges these individuals concealed criminal acts or other facts during their application process, meaning they lacked good moral character. The targeted individuals originate from countries including Mexico, Pakistan, China, and Sierra Leone. [1]
Broader Context and Criticism
While laws to strip citizenship have historically been reserved for severe crimes like war crimes, the Trump administration has sought to expand the practice as part of a wider deportation push. Human rights groups have criticized the expanded proceedings, warning they could leave individuals stateless or be leveraged against political rivals. Meanwhile, separate legal battles continue regarding birthright citizenship after the Supreme Court struck down previous administration efforts to dismantle it. [1]
Sources
- Trump officials pursue record number of cases to strip US citizenship — 2026-10-06T00:02:23Z
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