Foreigners in the U.S. are being stripped of citizenship: new restrictions
Immigration authorities instructed to open up to 200 cases per month
The administration of Donald Trump has set a new target for immigration authorities — to identify between 100 and 200 foreigners each month who could be stripped of U.S. citizenship, The Economic Times reports, citing NBC News. This reflects an expansion of denaturalization practices — citizenship may be revoked if it was obtained through violations or false information.
Approved naturalizations under review
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has sent specialists to regional offices across the country to review previously approved naturalization applications. Cases where violations are identified are referred to the Department of Justice, which is authorized to initiate legal proceedings to revoke citizenship and handle such cases in federal courts.
USCIS clarified that denaturalization is based on evidence of fraud or false statements. Priority is given to cases involving national security threats, war crimes, or abuse of government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Such lawsuits were previously rare. During Donald Trump’s first presidential term, 102 denaturalization cases were filed over four years. Authorities now expect to reach a comparable volume in a much shorter period.
How citizenship is revoked in the United States
Revoking U.S. citizenship remains a legally complex, multi-stage process despite stricter immigration policies. These cases are handled exclusively in federal courts and require strong evidence that citizenship was obtained unlawfully — for example, through false statements or concealment of key facts. The process involves investigation, legal filings, and court proceedings, and can take years and significant government resources.
Experts note that historically, denaturalization was used only in exceptional cases. These typically involved individuals who concealed serious crimes, participation in war crimes, terrorist activity, or major immigration violations. In most cases, citizenship granted through naturalization was considered secure and rarely challenged after approval.
About 800,000 people become naturalized U.S. citizens each year. Against this backdrop, denaturalization cases still affect only a small share of new citizens. However, expanded reviews and increased litigation show that this tool is being used more actively and is becoming part of broader efforts to tighten control over how citizenship is obtained.
Immigration to the U.S. becomes more difficult
The Trump administration has also tightened immigration policy in other areas. One key step was expanding entry bans for citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, and individuals holding Palestinian Authority travel documents. For the first time, full entry bans were also imposed on citizens of Laos and Sierra Leone. Officials cited high visa overstay rates and unreliable identification systems in certain countries.
The United States has also paused immigration applications from citizens of 19 non-European countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, and Venezuela. Applicants must now undergo additional screening, including possible repeat interviews.
In addition, up to 10,000 applications from Russian citizens have been frozen. Overall, the restrictions affect individuals from 75 countries and are based on an internal State Department memorandum. Consular officers now pay closer attention to the “public charge” criterion, evaluating applicants’ financial stability, health, and ability to support themselves without government assistance.
Conclusion
Analysts at International Investment note that these measures reflect a shift toward a stricter model of regulating entry and naturalization. Increased scrutiny, expanded restrictions, and review of past decisions are changing the overall immigration framework. Authorities are placing greater emphasis on identifying violations and reassessing applicants, including their financial stability, accuracy of submitted information, and potential security risks.
As a result, obtaining immigration status in the United States is becoming a longer and more complex process. The likelihood of additional scrutiny has increased even for applicants already in the system, adding uncertainty and making relocation planning more difficult.