Trump Administration Shows It Is Not Afraid to Take Your Citizenship Away

On October 13th, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was in the process of stripping citizenship from 40 individuals. You might assume that once you obtain citizenship, it is impossible to lose it. However, “denaturalization” is real, and this process may take away the citizenship you worked so hard to achieve. If you face denaturalization proceedings, consider speaking with a Palm Beach County immigration lawyer.

USCIS Set to Strip Away Citizenship From 40 People

USCIS states that 40 people are set to lose their citizenship in a single enforcement action carried out by the United States government. The move is a coordinated effort between USCIS and the Justice Department, and it represents a major acceleration of the denaturalization process compared to previous years and administrations.

On average, previous administrations oversaw only a dozen or so denaturalizations per year. While that number rose slightly under Biden (and even more so under Trump’s first term), the Trump administration has taken it to a new level by targeting 40 different people within the space of just a few months. If this pace continues, hundreds of people could lose their citizenship by the end of Trump’s second term. In fact, the administration has specifically stated that this is its goal.

So why are these 40 people facing the loss of their citizenship? The administration states that they are guilty of serious offenses, such as spying for another country, manslaughter, and aggravated sodomy. However, it is important to note that these crimes did not trigger the denaturalization process. Instead, the individuals may lose their citizenship because they lied about their criminal histories when applying for citizenship. The only way you can lose your citizenship is by lying during the application.

For example, one of the individuals in question admitted to engaging in money laundering before she was naturalized. An admission of this nature paves the way for denaturalization because it proves the individual in question was dishonest about their criminal history when they applied for citizenship. Another man lied about the death of his wife before becoming a citizen, later engaging in a polygamous marriage with his (still alive) wife and another individual.

If nothing else, these cases illustrate the importance of being honest on your citizenship application. Even if you are charged with a crime but not yet convicted, you still have to disclose this fact in your application. Many believe that it is not worth disclosing an arrest, especially given the chances of an acquittal. However, a conviction may only put you behind bars for a few years, while the denaturalization process is permanent. It might make more sense to wait until your criminal case is finished before moving forward with your citizenship application

Can a Palm Beach County Immigration Lawyer Help Me Keep My Citizenship?

While it is possible to lose your citizenship through denaturalization, the burden of proof is quite high. A lawyer can help you keep your citizenship by pushing back against allegations on your behalf. At least in theory, US citizenship is supposed to be extremely difficult to revoke. Contact an experienced Palm Beach County immigration lawyer at The Devore Law Group for further guidance.

Sources:

uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/justice-department-moves-to-strip-citizenship-from-40-criminals-in-largest-single-period-filing

justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-moves-strip-citizenship-40-criminals-largest-single-period