Federal immigration lawyers are being temporarily detailed to Justice Department offices as the Trump administration increases efforts to pursue citizenship revocation cases tied to alleged fraud and national security concerns.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Trump administration has begun temporarily reassigning attorneys from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to Department of Justice offices as part of a broader effort to accelerate denaturalization proceedings against some naturalized American citizens accused of obtaining citizenship unlawfully.
According to an Axios report, USCIS attorneys are being moved into U.S. attorney offices to assist with cases seeking to revoke citizenship from individuals alleged to have concealed disqualifying conduct or committed fraud during the naturalization process. Former agency officials told the outlet the transfers were not entirely voluntary, with one source describing staff members as being “volun-told” to relocate while another referred to the move as attorneys “being force volunteered.”
One former official told Axios that prior experience handling denaturalization litigation was not required for reassigned lawyers as long as they maintained active legal licenses.
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler defended the initiative in comments to Axios, stating, “We are proud to support this critical effort by providing the Department of Justice with a team of our most skilled immigration law attorneys.”
The administration’s renewed focus on denaturalization follows years of attempts by immigration officials to increase the number of cases pursued against naturalized citizens accused of making false statements or concealing information during the immigration process. One source familiar with the effort told Axios that such cases historically have been difficult to win because of the government’s high evidentiary burden.
“[I]t’s really hard to prove … the standard is really high, and you need good evidence,” the source said.
Under civil denaturalization law, federal prosecutors must establish allegations with “clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence which does not leave the issue in doubt,” according to the report.
The Justice Department has filed 35 denaturalization cases since President Donald Trump began his second term, including 12 filed this month alone, Axios reported, citing a DOJ spokesperson. Officials have also reportedly identified hundreds of additional potential defendants. An earlier New York Times report cited by Axios stated that approximately 385 individuals had been shortlisted for possible denaturalization proceedings.
During Trump’s first administration, USCIS identified roughly 2,500 possible denaturalization matters, although only a limited number were ultimately referred for prosecution. The administration also previously established a specialized denaturalization unit composed of approximately a dozen attorneys.
Former USCIS Director Joe Edlow, who has continued advocating for broader enforcement authority, argued last year that denaturalization efforts should not be centralized within a single office. Speaking during an event hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies, Edlow said, “I think it’s just as useful to have a decentralized denaturalization process.”
“If that gives rise to the need for a denaturalization, we’re going to move forward,” Edlow added. “I don’t need it specially sent to an office. I want every office using this as a benchmark.”
A June 2025 Justice Department memorandum reportedly identified denaturalization enforcement as one of the department’s major priorities, stating that such actions “supports the overall integrity of the naturalization program,” according to Axios.
A DOJ spokesperson also told the outlet that the department welcomed assistance from USCIS attorneys “to advance the President’s mission to promote public safety and root out fraud.”
The administration publicly highlighted its campaign earlier this month when Justice Department officials announced efforts to denaturalize 12 naturalized citizens accused of various criminal offenses and immigration violations. The allegations included terrorism-related activity, firearms trafficking, marriage fraud, investor fraud, identity fraud, war crimes concealment, and possession of indecent digital images involving minors.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told CBS News that individuals who obtained citizenship through fraudulent means “should be worried.”
“We’re not limiting ourselves to any category,” Blanche said, adding, “there are a lot of individuals who are citizens who shouldn’t be.”
The individuals named in those proceedings were identified as originating from Iraq, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Somalia, The Gambia, Bolivia, Kenya, India, China, and Nigeria.
The administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy has also included calls for expanded legal authority to revoke citizenship from convicted terrorists and violent offenders. During a March 18 appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” FBI Director Kash Patel discussed the need for “stronger legislation” related to criminal deportations and denaturalization authority.
Referencing the Old Dominion attack, Patel said the suspect had previously been “convicted and sentenced [for] terrorism” but argued that “no one bothered to denaturalize him and remove him from the country.”
The administration also recently implemented additional immigration policy changes affecting legal residency applications. On May 22, officials announced that most migrants seeking lawful permanent residency through Adjustment of Status procedures would generally be required to return to their home countries and process applications through American embassies or consulates abroad unless extraordinary circumstances apply.
The policy does not apply to refugees, asylum applicants, or migrants already residing outside the United States.
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said the change was intended to restore “the original intent of the law” and argued the previous process had encouraged abuse of immigration loopholes.
Original article
Comments