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Attention, US Citizens: Yes, You Can Now Be Deported

July 3, 2025

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a memo making denaturalization a "top-five priority," ostensibly targeting serious crimes but including a concerning catch-all provision for "any case deemed sufficiently important. " Civil rights advocates worry this policy creates a two-tiered citizenship system where naturalized Americans face greater vulnerability than birthright citizens, with lower evidentiary standards and no guaranteed legal representation. The policy has already shown potential for political targeting, as demonstrated by GOP officials calling for the denaturalization of New York assemblyman Zohran Mamdani due to his political views.

Who is affected

  • Naturalized U.S. citizens
  • Immigrant communities across America
  • High-profile immigrants engaged in public or political life
  • Naturalized citizens with complex immigration journeys who may have made minor omissions in their applications
  • Immigrant Americans of color who are politically active
  • Specifically, Zohran Mamdani, a New York assemblyman born in Uganda to Indian parents

What action is being taken

  • The Department of Justice has issued a memo making denaturalization a "top-five priority"
  • The DOJ is pursuing denaturalization cases with broad discretion under a catch-all clause for "any case deemed sufficiently important"
  • GOP officials are demanding the DOJ consider revoking Zohran Mamdani's citizenship based on his political outspokenness
  • Civil rights groups and immigration advocates are raising concerns about the policy's implications

Why it matters

  • The policy creates a "second-class citizenship" status for naturalized Americans who can be stripped of citizenship through civil processes with lower evidence standards
  • It opens the door to selective enforcement and potential political targeting
  • The policy threatens to silence political dissent among immigrant communities
  • Even minor omissions or mistakes in naturalization applications could now be grounds for denaturalization
  • Unlike birthright citizens, naturalized citizens don't have guaranteed legal representation in these proceedings
  • It sets a precedent where U.S. citizens could potentially lose citizenship based on their speech and political beliefs

What's next

  • The policy could evolve from focusing on criminal cases to targeting individuals with paperwork issues or minor legal matters
  • Political retaliation may increase against high-profile critics of the administration, especially immigrants of color
  • Immigrant communities may become more hesitant to engage politically due to fear of retaliation
  • Naturalized Americans are advised to review their naturalization records, consult immigration attorneys, and organize their legal history

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint