The DOJ Wants Prosecutors To 'Ramp Up Denaturalizations'

The Justice Department is pushing to revoke the citizenship of 384 foreign-born Americans, according to a New York Times report published Thursday.

While it’s not inherently abnormal for the DOJ to pursue the denaturalization of individuals believed to have obtained their citizenship through fraud, the department is now calling on prosecutors across the country to “ramp up denaturalizations,” according to the Times. The effort is part of President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration crackdown.

The push was announced during a Justice Department meeting last week, according to the Times, which reported that civil litigators in 39 U.S. attorney’s offices across the country will pursue denaturalization cases.

White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson suggested Thursday on X that the push was simply about enforcing federal law.

“Citizenship fraud is a serious crime,” Jackson wrote. “If you break the law, you will be held accountable. After 4 years of Joe Biden, this may be shocking to some.”