Fact Check: "Citizenship in the U.S. can only be revoked under specific legal circumstances."
What We Know
U.S. citizenship can indeed be revoked, but only under specific legal circumstances. According to Forbes Advisor, both natural-born and naturalized citizens can lose their citizenship status, although the grounds for revocation differ between the two groups. For natural-born citizens, the U.S. Supreme Court has established that citizenship cannot be revoked unless the individual voluntarily and intentionally relinquishes it. Actions that may demonstrate such intent include running for office in another country, joining a foreign military engaged in hostilities against the U.S., or committing acts of treason (Forbes Advisor) (source-3).
For naturalized citizens, revocation can occur if they obtained their citizenship illegally or if they engage in specific behaviors post-naturalization, such as lying during the application process or joining certain organizations (USCIS) (source-1). The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlines that denaturalization can happen if a person fails to meet the eligibility requirements for citizenship or commits acts that demonstrate a lack of allegiance to the U.S. (USCIS) (source-1).
Analysis
The claim that U.S. citizenship can only be revoked under specific legal circumstances is supported by multiple credible sources. The Forbes Advisor article provides a comprehensive overview of the conditions under which citizenship can be revoked, emphasizing that both natural-born and naturalized citizens are protected under the law unless they take specific actions that indicate a desire to relinquish their citizenship.
The USCIS policy manual further supports this by detailing the legal grounds for revocation, which include illegal procurement of citizenship and post-naturalization misconduct (USCIS) (source-1). This aligns with the legal framework governing citizenship in the U.S., indicating that revocation is not arbitrary but rather a process governed by law.
While some sources, such as FindLaw, also discuss the rarity of citizenship revocation, they confirm that it is indeed possible under the outlined circumstances. The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established legal and immigration information platforms that provide accurate and up-to-date information.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The claim that citizenship in the U.S. can only be revoked under specific legal circumstances is accurate. Both natural-born and naturalized citizens have protections against arbitrary revocation, but specific actions can lead to loss of citizenship. The legal framework clearly outlines the conditions under which citizenship may be revoked, confirming the validity of the claim.
