Fact Check: "Denaturalization could create a 'second class' of U.S. citizens, experts warn."
What We Know
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced plans to prioritize denaturalization cases, particularly targeting naturalized citizens who have committed certain crimes. This initiative, outlined in a memo from June 2025, suggests that the DOJ will pursue denaturalization through civil litigation, which raises significant concerns regarding due process and the rights of naturalized citizens (NPR). Experts have warned that this could lead to a scenario where naturalized citizens are treated as a "second class" of Americans, as they may face the risk of losing their citizenship based on broader and vaguer criteria than before (NPR).
The DOJ's memo indicates that denaturalization will be a top enforcement priority, particularly for cases involving national security violations and fraud against the government (NPR). Legal experts, such as Sameera Hafiz from the Immigration Legal Resource Center, have expressed concerns that this approach could create a "second class" of U.S. citizens, where naturalized individuals are at risk of losing their citizenship while those born in the U.S. are not (NPR).
Analysis
The claim that denaturalization could create a "second class" of U.S. citizens is supported by the DOJ's recent policy shift and the reactions of legal experts. The memo from the DOJ indicates a significant expansion of the criteria for denaturalization, which could lead to a broader interpretation of what constitutes grounds for revocation of citizenship (NPR). This shift has raised alarms among immigration law experts who argue that the vagueness of the criteria allows for arbitrary enforcement, potentially targeting individuals based on their naturalized status rather than their actions (NPR).
Furthermore, the civil litigation approach to denaturalization means that individuals may not have the same legal protections as they would in criminal proceedings, including the right to counsel. This lack of legal support could disproportionately affect naturalized citizens, further contributing to the perception of a "second class" status (NPR). Critics, including legal scholars, have pointed out that this could lead to significant consequences for families, particularly children who may lose their citizenship if a parent's naturalization is revoked (NPR).
On the other hand, proponents of the DOJ's approach argue that it is necessary to protect national security and ensure that individuals who commit serious crimes do not retain the privileges of citizenship (NPR). However, this perspective does not address the potential for abuse of discretion in targeting naturalized citizens, which could lead to the very inequalities that critics warn against.
Conclusion
The claim that denaturalization could create a "second class" of U.S. citizens is True. The DOJ's new policies and the concerns raised by legal experts indicate that naturalized citizens may face increased risks of losing their citizenship based on vague criteria and civil litigation processes that do not afford the same protections as criminal proceedings. This situation could indeed result in a tiered system of citizenship, where naturalized individuals are treated differently from those born in the U.S.
