Trump Administration Targets Green Card Holders Who Became Citizens

The Trump administration has instructed federal offices to sharply increase the number of cases seeking to revoke US citizenship from naturalised Americans.

Internal guidance reported by The New York Times directs field offices to submit between 100 and 200 denaturalisation cases each month during the 2026 fiscal year. This would represent a substantial increase from recent levels. The Justice Department has stated that slightly more than 120 cases were filed in total between 2017 and the present.

The directive affects a population of roughly 26 million naturalised citizens in the United States. Citizenship through naturalisation continues to expand, with more than 800,000 people sworn in last year. The largest groups came from Mexico, India, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic and Vietnam. 

Individuals who lose citizenship generally return to lawful permanent resident status, but they forfeit the rights and protections that accompany citizenship. US law allows denaturalisation in limited circumstances, primarily where citizenship was obtained through fraud or material misrepresentation. 

In the past, such cases were rare and typically involved serious matters, including war crimes or threats to national security. Revocation of citizenship requires a court ruling, which provides procedural safeguards for those affected.

Under the Trump administration, officials have signalled a broader application of the law. Denaturalisation has been identified as a policy priority, and authorities have indicated that inaccuracies during the application process, including financial misstatements, may be sufficient grounds for action. 

The policy has increased concern among naturalised Americans who were previously lawful permanent residents. While a Green Card permits indefinite residence and employment, it does not provide the full legal status of citizenship. Those who have naturalised may now face renewed scrutiny of past applications if errors or omissions are identified.

The Department of Justice has previously described denaturalisation as an important enforcement mechanism. Although President Trump has publicly associated the policy with criminal convictions, internal guidance suggests that civil cases may also proceed where authorities allege concealment or misrepresentation, even many years after citizenship was granted.

The planned expansion of denaturalisation raises questions about the permanence of US citizenship for those who obtained it through naturalisation. Citizenship has long been regarded as a settled legal status following completion of the process.