Denaturalization Process: Can U.S Citizens Be Deported?

Denaturalization can occur when you lie about prior or current affiliations in your application or your naturalization interview. For example, the U.S. government denaturalizes individuals who didn’t disclose they were or currently are in a terrorist party (e.g., the Nazi Party or Al-Qaeda).

The U.S. will revoke citizenship if a person obtains their United States citizenship illegally. For example, if the U.S. government discovers an individual obtained citizenship through marriage fraud, that person might be deported through denaturalization.

If someone becomes naturalized based on military service, but is discharged under less than honorable conditions before completing less than five years of honorable service, they may face denaturalization.

If an individual joins a terrorist organization within five years of gaining citizenship, they may face denaturalization.

The path to U.S. citizenship through naturalization is long and complex. You have likely worked hard and overcome many obstacles to earn your citizenship.

When you become a naturalized citizen, the government acknowledges your new status and grants you the full rights of any U.S. citizen, whether native-born or naturalized.

The court system requires the government to meet a very high evidentiary burden to revoke your citizenship through denaturalization. In short, denaturalization can only occur under extremely narrow circumstances that meet strict legal standards. Your rights as a citizen are firmly protected.

If you are denaturalized, there is a chance that you will not be deported. You may return to the same lawful permanent resident status (LPR) you held before gaining citizenship. However, if the reason for your denaturalization is also grounds for deportation, your removal proceedings will begin immediately.

Unfortunately, if you face denaturalization, your family members who joined you in the United States on a family visa and obtained citizenship can also be denaturalized.

Natural-born U.S. citizens maintain citizenship through the 14th Amendment, so they cannot be denaturalized or deported. However, a citizen can choose to renounce their citizenship.

There are several concerns about the denaturalization process.

• Due process concerns: Critics say that the government may be too aggressive, especially if minor paperwork errors or unintentional omissions occur and are treated just like fraud.
• Human impact: Losing citizenship can mean family separation, statelessness, or deportation to a country someone has not lived in for many years.
• Rarity vs. precedent: At times of expanded efforts, some worry it could be used as a political or discriminatory tool.

In 2018, the U.S. government created a new department within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pursue denaturalization cases aggressively. In 2020, the Department of Justice created the Denaturalization Section that joined the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, named the District Court Section and the Appellate Section. 2025 is experiencing a resurgence of focus on denaturalization under the current administration.

Denaturalization is very rare. Only a small number of cases are filed each year. 

A person loses all the rights of U.S. citizenship, including voting and holding a passport. In most cases, they also face deportation.

Yes. If the person does not hold another nationality, losing U.S. citizenship may leave them stateless, which creates serious legal and humanitarian issues.

No. The government must bring a case in federal court, and the individual can fight and appeal any decision.

Usually not. The government must prove that fraud or misrepresentation was intentional.