Trump’s administration plans to revoke the citizenship of at least 250 naturalised Americans by October 2026. The major operation targets fraud and those convicted of serious crimes

President Donald Trump’s administration has ramped up plans to revoke the citizenship of at least 250 naturalised Americans by October, in what would become one of the largest single denaturalisation operations in recent US history.

Also read: Oil slumps to lowest since US-Iran conflict

A senior US Department of State official told CNN that the Justice Department intends to file at least 250 denaturalisation cases in the coming months.

The targeted individuals are accused of either obtaining their citizenship fraudulently or committing serious criminal acts after naturalisation.

The move follows swift action last week when the Justice Department filed cases against 17 naturalised Americans convicted of violent crimes, including child sex offences, wire fraud and immigration fraud.

It also builds on 12 additional cases filed in May involving concealment of terrorist ties and war crimes.

This represents a sharp escalation. For comparison, between 1990 and 2017 the Justice Department filed an average of only 11 denaturalisation cases per year.

With roughly eight million people having gained US citizenship through naturalisation in the past decade, the Trump administration is prioritising a thorough review of cases involving deception or public safety threats.

Officials describe the initiative as essential to protecting the integrity of American citizenship.

One senior Justice Department source stated: “We are going after people who should never have received citizenship in the first place.”

Under US law, denaturalisation requires the government to prove its case by clear and convincing evidence in federal court.

Those stripped of citizenship usually revert to their prior immigration status and may face deportation. All individuals will have the opportunity to defend themselves in court.

The drive forms a key pillar of President Trump’s wider immigration enforcement strategy.

Supporters view it as a long-overdue correction that upholds the value of US citizenship, while critics fear it could lead to overreach and hardship for families who have lived lawfully in America for years.

Also read: Why Nigerians must participate in American politics — US community leader

This development is expected to intensify the national conversation on immigration policy as the cases move through the legal system in the months ahead.