Fact Check: Elliott Duke's Citizenship Revoked for Crimes Committed Before Naturalization
What We Know
Elliott Duke, a former citizen of the United Kingdom, enlisted in the U.S. Army and applied for U.S. citizenship while serving in Germany. He applied for citizenship on November 13, 2012, and during the application process, he falsely claimed that he had never committed any crimes other than a speeding ticket. Duke was granted U.S. citizenship on January 18, 2013, after taking the Oath of Allegiance (Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Convicted ...).
However, Duke had been involved in serious criminal activity prior to his naturalization. Specifically, he began receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material in 2012, which continued after he became a citizen. He was arrested on May 14, 2013, and subsequently convicted of receipt and possession of child pornography on January 23, 2014. Following his conviction, the Justice Department filed for his denaturalization on February 19, 2025, based on his fraudulent application and failure to disclose his criminal history (Denaturalization Sought Against Five Child Sexual ...). On June 13, 2025, a U.S. District Judge ordered the revocation of Duke's citizenship (Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Convicted ...).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim that Elliott Duke's citizenship was revoked due to crimes committed before his naturalization is robust. The Justice Department's official announcement details the timeline of Duke's criminal activities, his fraudulent naturalization application, and the subsequent legal actions taken against him. The department emphasized that Duke concealed his criminal history during the naturalization process, which is a violation of immigration laws (Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Convicted ...).
The credibility of the sources is high, as they originate from official government announcements and legal proceedings. The Department of Justice is a reliable source for information regarding immigration and citizenship matters, and their statements are backed by legal documentation and court rulings. Furthermore, the case against Duke was part of a broader initiative to address immigration fraud, particularly involving serious crimes such as child sexual abuse (Denaturalization Sought Against Five Child Sexual ...).
In contrast, there are no credible sources disputing the facts surrounding Duke's case. The details provided by the Justice Department are consistent and corroborated by the legal outcomes of his conviction and denaturalization.
Conclusion
The claim that Elliott Duke's citizenship was revoked for crimes committed before naturalization is True. The evidence clearly shows that Duke engaged in criminal activities prior to his naturalization, failed to disclose these crimes during the application process, and was subsequently denaturalized by the Justice Department based on these grounds.
