Fact Check: First Denaturalization Case Under Trump Targets Military Veteran for Child Sexual Abuse
What We Know
The claim that the first denaturalization case under the Trump administration targeted a military veteran for child sexual abuse is substantiated by recent actions taken by the Justice Department. On June 13, 2025, the Justice Department announced the denaturalization of Elliott Duke, a former U.S. Army servicemember from the United Kingdom, who was convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material (Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Convicted ...). Duke had applied for U.S. citizenship while serving in the military and failed to disclose his criminal activities during the naturalization process. Specifically, he was arrested in 2013 for possession and distribution of child pornography, which he admitted to doing both before and after his naturalization in 2013 (DOJ announces plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust. The Justice Department's announcement confirms that Duke's case was indeed the first denaturalization case under the Trump administration, specifically targeting a military veteran who had committed serious crimes. The denaturalization was pursued because Duke had fraudulently obtained his citizenship by concealing his criminal history during the application process. This aligns with the Justice Department's broader initiative to prioritize denaturalization cases involving individuals who have committed serious crimes (DOJ announces plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship).
The credibility of the sources is high, as they originate from official government announcements and reputable news outlets. The Justice Department's press release provides detailed information about the case, including Duke's criminal activities and the legal proceedings that led to his denaturalization. Additionally, the NPR article corroborates these details, emphasizing the government's focus on denaturalization as a priority under the Trump administration (Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Convicted ..., DOJ announces plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship).
There is no significant counter-evidence presented in the available sources that would dispute the claim. The information is consistent across multiple credible outlets, reinforcing the validity of the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the first denaturalization case under Trump targeted a military veteran for child sexual abuse is accurate. The evidence clearly shows that Elliott Duke, a military veteran, was denaturalized due to his criminal activities related to child sexual abuse material, which he failed to disclose during his naturalization process. The actions taken by the Justice Department reflect a commitment to enforcing immigration laws against individuals who fraudulently obtain citizenship.
