The Department of Justice has recently announced a new enforcement priority to revoke the US citizenship of individuals charged with certain crimes. In a memo issued by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate on June 11, the Civil Division of the DOJ will prioritize and maximize denaturalization proceedings in cases supported by evidence and permitted by law.
The memo outlines ten categories of crimes that could lead to citizenship being stripped, including war crimes, COVID loan fraud, national security threats, criminal gang involvement, various forms of fraud, human trafficking, sex offenses, violent crimes, and citizenship obtained through government corruption or misrepresentation.
The DOJ will focus on individuals who pose a potential danger to national security, including those with ties to terrorism, espionage, or illegal export activities. Additionally, individuals involved in criminal enterprises such as gangs, transnational organizations, and drug cartels will also be targeted for denaturalization.
The Civil Division will also prioritize cases where naturalized citizens failed to disclose previous felonies or obtained citizenship through fraudulent means. The memo emphasizes that the categories listed are meant to guide prioritization but do not limit the pursuit of other cases deemed important by the Division.
Denaturalization is one of the top five enforcement priorities for the Civil Division, along with combatting discriminatory practices, ending antisemitism, protecting women and children, and ending sanctuary jurisdictions. Since the issuance of the memo, at least one individual has been denaturalized – Elliott Duke, a British national convicted of child pornography possession.
Duke, who obtained US citizenship in 2013 after serving in the US Army, was found to have lied on his citizenship application about his criminal history. The DOJ discovered that Duke had been involved in distributing child sexual abuse material while stationed in Germany in 2012. His denaturalization case was part of Operation Prison Lookout, an initiative to identify and prosecute sex offenders who fraudulently obtained citizenship.
In a statement, Shumate emphasized that individuals who commit serious crimes before obtaining US citizenship and then lie about them will be pursued by the Justice Department. The DOJ is committed to upholding the integrity of the naturalization process and ensuring that those who obtain citizenship through fraudulent means are held accountable.
