Trump Administration Moves Immigration Lawyers to Boost Denaturalization Efforts
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The Trump administration is temporarily transferring U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) lawyers to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase work on denaturalization cases. A Justice Department memo from June 2025 lists denaturalizations as a top priority, and a DOJ spokesperson says the department welcomes the assistance to advance the President's mission. Since the start of the second term, the administration has filed 35 denaturalization cases.
Facts First
- USCIS immigration lawyers are being temporarily moved to DOJ offices to work on denaturalization cases.
- The Justice Department lists denaturalization as a top priority, citing support for the integrity of the naturalization program.
- The Trump administration has filed 35 denaturalization cases since the start of its second term, including 12 this month.
- A previous dedicated team identified 2,500 potential cases, but only a fraction were referred to the DOJ.
- The legal burden for denaturalization is high, requiring clear and convincing evidence of willful lies on applications.
What Happened
The Trump administration is temporarily moving immigration lawyers from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase efforts on denaturalization cases. Four former agency officials described the transfers, with one source stating staffers were being 'volun-told' and another describing lawyers as 'being force volunteered.' A third source stated the transferred lawyers only need an active law license, not prior trial experience. USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler stated the agency is proud to support the effort by providing skilled attorneys. A DOJ spokesperson told Axios the department welcomes the assistance to advance the President's mission.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a naturalized U.S. citizen, this renewed focus on denaturalization could mean increased scrutiny of your immigration file, particularly if there were any inconsistencies in your application. For the broader public, this effort could affect perceptions of the integrity of the citizenship process and may lead to more legal cases challenging individuals' citizenship status. The high legal standard for denaturalization means cases are complex and require substantial evidence, which may limit the number of successful actions.
What's Next
The transferred USCIS lawyers are likely to begin reviewing the backlog of potential cases identified during the first term, which USCIS chief Joe Edlow stated are 'still kicking around.' The Justice Department may continue to file new denaturalization cases, building on the 35 already filed this term. The administration's prioritization of this issue suggests these efforts could persist and potentially expand.