What is Civil Denaturalization?
Denaturalization is the legal process used by the federal government to revoke U.S. citizenship from a naturalized citizen, meaning someone who was not born a U.S. citizen and later successfully applied to become one. Denaturalization may only occur by order of a federal judge, whether through a civil lawsuit or pursuant to a criminal conviction. The federal government can only revoke naturalized citizens’ citizenship in extremely rare circumstances, after judicial approval.
Civil denaturalization is at greater risk of being weaponized by this administration than criminal denaturalization because civil proceedings have no statute of limitations (unlike the criminal statute of limitations) and a naturalized citizen is not entitled to an attorney in civil proceedings (unlike in criminal proceedings).
What’s at Stake?
The Trump-Vance administration has been escalating its efforts to strip naturalized Americans of their citizenship — using the threat of civil denaturalization as a tool to stoke fear in immigrant communities and attempt to redefine in narrower terms what it means to be American. However, denaturalization proceedings remain quite rare, and require a multi-step process and ultimately court order – even though the Trump-Vance administration has begun initiating these cases more frequently.
To support practitioners in preparing to respond, this Hub provides resources and information to understand these proceedings and help practitioners combat the administration’s weaponization of civil denaturalization through tools, analysis, and example case materials.
Featured Resources
Primer: Denaturalization and Its Potential Weaponization
This resource provides an overview of the civil denaturalization process, describes how it was used in the first Trump administration, and explores how it could be weaponized in the Trump-Vance administration. It also includes links to additional resources for those interested in learning more.
Civil Denaturalization Case Database
This database tracks new civil denaturalization cases since January 2025 and is regularly updated.
Additional Resources
Practice Advisory: Denaturalization and Revocation of Naturalization
This resource from Immigrant Legal Resource Center and National Immigration Project provides detailed information on civil denaturalization legal authorities and proceedings, including potential defenses.
Denaturalization’s Missing Limit
This law review article, by Cassandra Burke Robertson and Irina D. Manta, argues that a five-year statute of limitations should apply to denaturalization cases. It may be useful to practitioners interested in making statute of limitations arguments in cases alleging conduct that occurred long ago.
Denaturalization Defense Clearinghouse
This clearinghouse connects naturalized U.S. citizens who are facing denaturalization with volunteer lawyers representing citizens on a pro bono basis. The website also includes resources for volunteer lawyers defending civil denaturalization cases.
We will soon be adding sample briefs for litigators representing defendants in denaturalization cases – stay tuned!