Fact Check: The DOJ is overseeing efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized U.S. citizens.

Fact Check: "The DOJ is overseeing efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized U.S. citizens."

What We Know

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indeed announced plans to prioritize the denaturalization of certain naturalized U.S. citizens. According to a memo released on June 11, 2025, the DOJ is directing its attorneys to focus on cases involving naturalized citizens who have committed specific crimes, thereby expanding the scope of denaturalization efforts (source-2). This initiative aims to revoke citizenship from individuals who may have misrepresented their criminal history or affiliations during the naturalization process (source-4).

The DOJ's approach is reminiscent of historical practices, such as those during the McCarthy era, where citizenship was stripped from individuals based on their political affiliations or alleged criminal activities (source-3). The memo emphasizes that denaturalization will be among the agency's top five enforcement priorities, indicating a significant shift in policy regarding naturalized citizens (source-5).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that the DOJ is overseeing efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized citizens is robust. The DOJ's June memo explicitly states that it will prioritize denaturalization proceedings, particularly against those who have committed crimes after naturalization (source-2). This policy change has raised concerns among immigration law experts regarding its constitutionality and potential implications for due process rights (source-4).

Critics argue that the use of civil litigation for denaturalization cases, as outlined in the DOJ memo, could undermine the rights of individuals facing such proceedings. In civil cases, the burden of proof is lower for the government, and individuals are not guaranteed legal representation, which raises significant due process concerns (source-3).

The sources cited are credible, including major news outlets like NPR, ABC News, and The Washington Post, which have reported on the DOJ's actions and the implications of its new policies. The DOJ's own memo serves as a primary source, providing direct insight into the agency's intentions (source-1).

Conclusion

The claim that the DOJ is overseeing efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized U.S. citizens is True. The DOJ has made clear its intention to prioritize denaturalization cases involving naturalized citizens who commit certain crimes, as outlined in their recent memo. This represents a significant policy shift that raises serious legal and ethical questions regarding the treatment of naturalized citizens in the U.S.

Sources

1. CIV Enforcement Memo
2. DOJ announces plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship
3. Immigration lawyers criticize Justice Department push to ...
4. DOJ looking at denaturalization for American citizens ...
5. DOJ memo pushes guidelines to revoke naturalized US citizenship
6. Trump DOJ stripping citizenship from naturalized Americans
7. Law used to kick out Nazis could be used to strip ...
8. Can Trump deport naturalized citizens? Here's what the DOJ ...