Fact Check: "25 million immigrants risk losing citizenship under new DOJ denaturalization criteria"
What We Know
The claim that "25 million immigrants risk losing citizenship under new DOJ denaturalization criteria" stems from recent actions taken by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). According to a memo published by the DOJ on June 11, 2025, the department is prioritizing denaturalization cases involving naturalized citizens who commit certain crimes. This includes a broad range of offenses such as national security violations and fraud against the government (NPR, The Guardian).
The memo indicates that there are approximately 25 million naturalized citizens in the U.S. as of 2023, which supports the claim that a significant number of immigrants could potentially be affected by these new criteria (NPR, Economic Times). The DOJ's directive allows for greater discretion among attorneys regarding which cases to pursue, raising concerns about the potential for arbitrary enforcement (Salon).
Analysis
The assertion that 25 million immigrants are at risk of losing their citizenship is partially true. While the DOJ's new policies do indeed target a large population of naturalized citizens, the actual risk of denaturalization is contingent upon individual circumstances, particularly criminal behavior. The DOJ's focus is on those who may have committed crimes or misrepresented themselves during the naturalization process (NPR, The Guardian).
Critics of the DOJ's approach express concerns about the implications for due process and the potential for abuse of power. Legal experts argue that the new criteria could create a "second class of U.S. citizens," where naturalized citizens face greater scrutiny and risk than those born in the U.S. (NPR, Salon). Furthermore, the vague language in the DOJ's memo allows for broad interpretation, which could lead to arbitrary enforcement and affect families of naturalized citizens, particularly children who derive citizenship through their parents (NPR, The Guardian).
The sources cited are credible, with NPR and The Guardian being well-respected news organizations. However, it is important to note that the interpretation of the DOJ's actions can vary widely depending on the political and legal perspectives of the commentators involved.
Conclusion
The claim that "25 million immigrants risk losing citizenship under new DOJ denaturalization criteria" is partially true. While the DOJ's new policies indeed target a significant number of naturalized citizens, the actual risk of denaturalization is not uniformly applicable to all 25 million individuals. The enforcement of these policies will depend on specific criminal activities and the discretion of DOJ attorneys. Concerns regarding due process and the potential for arbitrary enforcement underscore the complexities of this issue.
