‘It’s Scary’: D.C. Immigrants React as Trump Administration Broadens Citizenship Crackdown

June 10, 2026

The Trump administration has launched what officials call the largest denaturalization initiative in modern U.S. history, filing lawsuits to revoke citizenship from 17 naturalized Americans accused of immigration fraud. This effort has created widespread anxiety among Washington D.C.'s immigrant communities, where nearly 14% of the population is foreign-born and approximately 44,000 residents are naturalized citizens. While the government claims to be targeting individuals who committed serious crimes or lied during naturalization, many lawful naturalized citizens who previously felt secure in their status now worry about the expanding scope of these actions.

Who is affected

17 naturalized Americans facing denaturalization lawsuits
Approximately 44,000 naturalized citizens living in Washington D.C.
Naturalized citizens throughout the U.S., particularly those in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 of D.C.
Immigrants from El Salvador, Ethiopia, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, China, and various African nations
Roughly 23,400 lawful permanent residents in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area who are eligible to become citizens
Cathy Park (naturalized citizen from South Korea) and Emmanuel Kamara (naturalized citizen from Liberia)

What action is being taken

The Justice Department is filing denaturalization lawsuits against individuals accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud or concealment
The Trump administration has filed more than 60 civil complaints seeking to revoke citizenship since January 2025
The Justice Department has expanded the categories of naturalized citizens considered priorities for review

Why it matters

This represents a significant shift in federal immigration policy, as denaturalization cases have historically been rare (averaging only 11 annually from 1990-2017). The dramatic increase creates fear and uncertainty among lawfully naturalized citizens who believed their citizenship was permanent and secure. Immigrants contribute substantially to D.C.'s economy, representing 16.7% of the city's labor force, more than one-fifth of healthcare workers, and nearly 14% of STEM professionals. The expanded denaturalization efforts could undermine the sense of security that comes with citizenship and potentially discourage future naturalization applications.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer