The federal government has sharply increased efforts to strip naturalized U.S. citizens of their citizenship, filing dozens of denaturalization lawsuits in recent weeks after years of relatively rare use of the legal process, according to a new report released Wednesday.
The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a research center at Syracuse University, found that at least 15 civil denaturalization complaints were filed in May 2026, followed by 18 more in the first half of June. Historically, the federal government averaged fewer than one such case per month.
The sudden spike marks a significant escalation in enforcement under the Trump administration, which has identified denaturalization as a priority area for civil immigration enforcement.
“Denaturalization, once a rare occurrence in federal courts, is now becoming increasingly common,” TRAC said in its report.
The analysis identified 166 denaturalization cases filed in federal courts between 2008 and June 12, 2026. While filings remained low for years — including fewer than four cases annually during the Biden administration — the numbers began rising again after a June 2025 Justice Department memo expanded enforcement priorities.
That memo outlined broad categories for potential denaturalization and gave the Justice Department discretion to pursue additional cases it deems significant, signaling a wider scope for future actions.
Grounds for revoking citizenship
According to TRAC, denaturalization cases are typically based on allegations that individuals obtained citizenship unlawfully, often by concealing material facts or misrepresenting their identity.
The most common basis historically — and in recent filings — is immigration fraud, particularly the use of false identities. Other cases involve serious criminal convictions, including fraud, sexual offenses, terrorism-related charges and trafficking crimes.
However, the report also raises concerns about how broadly the government may interpret disqualifying conduct.
TRAC noted that some denaturalization cases rely on answers provided in naturalization applications, including whether applicants disclosed prior unlawful acts. Even relatively minor violations — such as traffic offenses or local ordinance violations — can be classified as crimes under certain jurisdictions and potentially used as grounds for civil denaturalization.
While the recent wave of cases appears to involve more serious allegations, TRAC warned that “less serious or non-criminal conduct may now serve as the basis” for future lawsuits as enforcement expands.
Roots in past enforcement efforts
Current denaturalization efforts trace back to “Operation Janus,” a program launched during the Obama administration in 2010 after authorities discovered that some individuals with prior deportation orders had obtained immigration benefits under different identities.
Subsequent investigations revealed gaps in fingerprint records, prompting a federal initiative to digitize older records. That effort identified thousands of cases involving individuals with multiple identities, some of whom later became U.S. citizens.
Federal agencies reviewed roughly 2,000 such cases, with about 1,600 involving potential fraud or concealment, according to TRAC. Dozens were referred for denaturalization proceedings.
Although enforcement slowed significantly after 2019 — partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and funding shortfalls — recent filings suggest the government has resumed reviewing these cases, particularly those linked to fingerprint discrepancies.
Legal and data complexities
Denaturalization cases are brought under federal law, primarily 8 U.S.C. Section 1451, which allows the government to revoke citizenship if it was “illegally procured” or obtained through willful misrepresentation.
TRAC found that about two-thirds of cases relied on this provision. Others were filed under related statutory authorities, though inconsistencies in how courts classify these cases make tracking trends difficult.
Public access to case details is also limited. Many federal courts restrict access to civil immigration filings in the PACER system, making it challenging to fully assess the underlying allegations in each case.
Of the cases where information was available, TRAC said the majority appeared to involve substantial legal grounds. Still, the report emphasized the need for continued monitoring as filings increase and enforcement criteria potentially broaden.
Growing scrutiny ahead
The recent surge suggests that denaturalization will remain a key component of federal immigration enforcement moving forward.
TRAC said the combination of renewed case reviews, expanded enforcement priorities and improved data systems has created the infrastructure for a sustained increase in denaturalization proceedings.
“As new denaturalization complaints are filed, we plan to update our database and periodically publish updated results,” the organization said.
Immigration advocates and legal experts are expected to closely watch how the policy is implemented, particularly whether it expands beyond serious fraud and criminal cases into more ambiguous areas of conduct.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
