Denaturalization Drive Prompts Likely Judicial Pushback, Experts Warn

The Justice Department plans to revoke citizenship from hundreds of naturalized Americans—starting with 384 individuals and averaging 200+ denaturalization referrals per month—raising concerns that civil denaturalization, which lacks right-to-counsel and jury trials, uses a lower burden of proof, and has no time limits, could put around 20 million naturalized citizens at lifelong risk and invite broad judicial pushback; critics argue the policy undermines fundamental rights and democracy, a point echoed by Afroyim v. Rusk’s protections of citizenship as a fundamental right.