What is Denaturalization?

Santiago Legal LLC
Dec 29, 2025
2 min read

Denaturalization is the revocation of U.S. citizenship from a person who obtained it through naturalization.

It can only occur by court order (civil or criminal).
It usually happens when there is fraud, concealment of information, or ineligibility at the time of obtaining citizenship.
A denaturalized person loses their citizenship and reverts to their previous immigration status (possible deportation or imprisonment if a crime was involved).

⚖️ Main Grounds for Denaturalization

Fraud or deception during the process:
- Hiding or lying about key information (employment, criminal record, political affiliations).
- Affiliation with totalitarian parties or terrorist groups.
Illegal acquisition of citizenship:
- Failing to meet requirements of residence, good moral character, or military service.
- Example: cases involving trafficking, serious crimes, or prior criminal activity.

📂 Limits and Burden of Proof

In civil cases: the government must prove with clear and convincing evidence.
In criminal cases: proof must be beyond a reasonable doubt.
No time limit for civil cases.
For criminal cases: a 10-year statute of limitations applies.

🎖️ Military Members and Veterans

If they obtained citizenship through military service after 11/24/2003:
- They may lose it if they fail to complete 5 years of honorable service.

👨‍👩‍👧 Impact on Family Members

Spouses and children may lose citizenship if it depended on the spouse/parent and denaturalization was due to fraud or misrepresentation.
They do not lose citizenship if the cause was illegal acquisition (e.g., failure to meet requirements).

📈 Recent Trends

Cases on the rise:
- 1990–2017: average of 11 per year.
- Trump administration: up to 42 per year and thousands of reviews.
- Biden administration: average of 16 per year.
In 2025, the DOJ (Department of Justice) announced that denaturalization is a priority, even in cases involving financial fraud, organized crime, or violent offenses.

⚠️ Current Concerns

There are 24.5 million naturalized citizens in the U.S.
The risk: minor mistakes or omissions in the application could be used to strip citizenship.
Example: the case of Norma Borgono (Peru), denaturalized for not disclosing her minor role in corporate fraud, even though she cooperated with the FBI.

🔹 Conclusion: Denaturalization, once reserved for extreme crimes (e.g., Nazis, terrorists), is now being applied more broadly. It is crucial for naturalized immigrants to understand their rights and risks.