President Donald Trump has reignited a major constitutional and immigration debate after stating that he would “absolutely” strip citizenship from certain naturalized Americans if he had the legal authority to do so.
The comments come as the administration escalates its immigration crackdown following a deadly attack on National Guard members. For the first time in this new phase, naturalized U.S. citizens are also being publicly placed under scrutiny.
What Trump Said
Speaking to reporters, Trump alleged that some individuals who later became U.S. citizens originally entered the country as criminals and were granted citizenship under previous administrations. He said that if the law allows, he would move to denaturalize such individuals.
In a Thanksgiving post on Truth Social, Trump went further, declaring that his administration would:
- End federal benefits for non-citizens
- Strip citizenship from migrants who threaten public order
- Deport foreign nationals deemed security threats
He also repeated controversial remarks targeting asylum seekers and Somali immigrants. Neither the White House nor the U.S. Department of Justice issued immediate official responses to these statements.
Is Denaturalization Legally Possible?
Yes — but only under strict conditions.
Under U.S. law, the government cannot revoke citizenship arbitrarily. To remove naturalization, federal prosecutors must prove in federal court that citizenship was obtained through:
- Fraud
- Wilful misrepresentation
- Concealment of critical facts
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the government bears a high burden of proof in such cases.
Justice Department’s New Enforcement Push
In June, the Justice Department issued internal directives instructing federal attorneys to prioritize denaturalization cases involving:
- War crimes
- Gang activity
- Terrorism-related offenses
- Human rights violations
- Individuals posing an ongoing national security threat
Officials clarified that citizenship would only be stripped where fraud in the original naturalization process can be proven with solid evidence.
What Is Naturalized Citizenship?
Naturalization is the legal process through which a lawful permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
To qualify, applicants must generally:
- Hold a green card for at least five years
- Demonstrate good moral character
- Pass English language tests
- Pass U.S. history and civics exams
The median time as a permanent resident before citizenship in 2024 was 7.5 years.
How Many Immigrants Are Naturalized Citizens?
According to U.S. government data:
- The U.S. had 46.2 million immigrants in 2022
- About 24.5 million (53%) are naturalized U.S. citizens
In the last decade alone, more than 7.9 million people became U.S. citizens through naturalization.
How Often Has the U.S. Stripped Citizenship?
Denaturalization is historically rare:
- From 1990–2017, only 305 cases were filed
- During Trump’s first term, 168 cases were filed
- During the Biden administration, 64 cases were filed
This marks a sharp increase under Trump compared to prior administrations. At least one individual was denaturalized this year following a conviction for child sexual abuse material distribution.
Do Immigrants Commit More Crime?
Extensive research consistently shows the opposite.
A 2023 study led by Stanford University economist Ran Abramitzky found that:
- Immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born citizens
- Immigrant incarceration rates have steadily declined since 1960
These findings directly contradict political claims linking immigration to rising crime.
What This Means Going Forward
Trump’s rhetoric signals a far more aggressive approach toward both immigrants and naturalized citizens if fully implemented. However, constitutional protections, federal courts, and strict legal standards remain major barriers to any mass revocation of citizenship.
Legal experts note that while targeted denaturalization for fraud already exists under law, broad political revocation of citizenship would face immediate constitutional challenges.
