The Justice Department has initiated multiple denaturalization actions targeting 40 people accused of various offenses.
This comes after President Donald Trump declared that his administration would strip citizenship from those who defrauded the immigration system and others who committed egregious crimes after being naturalized.
From a Justice Department press release:
The Department of Justice announced today that it has filed denaturalization actions in multiple U.S. district courts against 40 individuals accused of serious offenses, including acting as an agent for a foreign government, committing voluntary manslaughter, and aggravated sodomy against a special‑needs man. Filed between Aug. 21 and Oct. 2, 2026, these complaints represent the largest volume of complaints submitted in a single period under the Trump administration.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a naturalized U.S. citizen’s citizenship may be revoked, and certificate of naturalization canceled, if the naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.
“Today’s announcement marks the largest denaturalization effort in modern history,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “From an individual convicted of espionage to others convicted of sexual offenses against minors, these defendants concealed critical facts from the U.S. government and represent serious criminal offenders. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice will continue to employ the denaturalization process to maintain our national security and protect the American people.”
“Every single one of these individuals lied their way into U.S. citizenship,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This administration will continue to pursue the largest denaturalization effort in department history to restore trust and integrity in U.S. citizenship. Our message is clear: the United States will not tolerate deception in the naturalization process.”
The list of those facing denaturalization is lengthy. But some of the targets committed serious offenses to get on the list. For example, Jinchao Wei was convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage and unlawful export of technical data after selling military secrets to the Chinese regime while serving in the Navy.
Javier Marrero-Pando pleaded guilty to aggravated sodomy after he was arrested for forcing a special-needs man to perform sexual acts against his will. This resulted in a life sentence with all but 15 years suspended.
Similarly, Javier Marrero-Pando pleaded guilty to aggravated sodomy for forcing a special-needs man to perform sexual acts against his will, resulting in a life sentence with all but 15 years suspended.
Norma Patricia Esparza was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison. She failed to disclose the crime throughout her naturalization proceedings.
