U.S. Citizenship Revoke: What It Means For Immigrants

The United States government is ramping up efforts to revoke citizenship from certain naturalized individuals, through a new memo issued by the Department of Justice, sparking widespread concern among immigrant communities including Nigerians living in the U.S.

The policy shift is part of a broader reorientation of immigration enforcement under recent executive orders and has implications for millions who acquired U.S. citizenship by naturalization.

This memo directs federal attorneys to pursue civil denaturalisation against individuals who either “illegally procured” citizenship or did so by “concealment of a material fact or by wilful misrepresentation.”

Unlike criminal trials, civil cases do not entitle individuals to legal representation, and the government has a lower burden of proof.

This effectively creates a faster pathway for stripping individuals of their citizenship, raising fears of possible misuse or overreach, especially among immigrant populations who may have unknowingly made errors in their naturalisation process.

“It is kind of, in a way, trying to create a second class of U.S. citizens,” said Sameera Hafiz, policy director at the Immigration Legal Resource Center, in an interview with NPR.

What Does It Mean To Be Denaturalized

To be denaturalized means to lose your citizenship that was granted through naturalisation (as opposed to being born with it). It is a legal process in which a government revokes someone’s citizenship because it believes the person either:

• Obtained it illegally
• Lied or hid important facts during the naturalization process
• Committed certain serious crimes after becoming a citizen
• Denaturalization is different from regular deportation. While deportation removes a person from the country, denaturalization strips away their citizenship first, which can then make them eligible for deportation.

Who Is At Risk?

The memo outlines ten priority categories for denaturalization, including individuals involved in war crimes, gang activity, and those deemed an ongoing threat to national security.

At the heart of the policy are the approximately 25 million U.S. citizens born abroad, a demographic that includes thousands of naturalized Nigerians.

While the memo appears targeted at serious criminal offences, immigration lawyers caution that its broad language leaves room for subjective interpretation, potentially putting even low-risk individuals under scrutiny.

The civil rights division of the Department of Justice, which is leading the implementation, has undergone a significant shift in focus.

Once known for its historic role in advancing racial justice, the division is now increasingly being used to push political agendas including the dismantling of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and transgender protections.

Real-World Impact: A Nigerian Family Already Affected

Though the Department of Justice has not publicly released the full list of individuals under review, one Nigerian family is reportedly facing a denaturalisation investigation after discrepancies were flagged in the father’s original asylum claim.

According to an immigration attorney based in Texas, the man, who became a U.S. citizen in 2014, is now under review because of an unintentional omission made during his asylum interview years ago.

His wife and two children, also citizens, are living in fear of what could happen if his citizenship is revoked.

The lawyer noted that, “He has no criminal record, he pays his taxes, he works full-time, and he’s raising children in this country but now he’s at risk of losing everything because of a technicality.”

This case underscores the growing fear among Nigerian families that even minor errors from years past could be used against them under the new policy.

Why Nigerians Abroad Should Pay Attention

For many Nigerians living in the U.S. whether students, professionals, or long-settled families; the new memo serves as a wake-up call.

Even naturalised citizens who have built careers, raised families, and contributed to their communities may now face vulnerability if there are any discrepancies in their immigration history.

The policy also affects the broader Nigerian diaspora’s sense of permanence and security in the U.S., especially as it lowers the standard for revoking citizenship and speeds up the process without traditional legal safeguards.

What You Should Do If Affected

The best course of action, experts suggest, is proactive legal awareness. Nigerians abroad are advised to maintain updated immigration records and consult qualified immigration attorneys if there are any concerns about past documentation or legal issues.

As the U.S. heads into another election season, immigration remains a flashpoint, and policies like this one reflect a shifting landscape where citizenship once seen as permanent may now come with conditions for naturalised immigrants.