The lawsuits, announced October 5, are allegations with no court ruling. A separate Minnesota case, from May, is being debated over its possible scope.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed civil lawsuits to strip citizenship from 40 naturalized immigrants, according to a statement from October 5, 2026. The lawsuits were filed in 19 federal districts between August 21 and October 2. These are allegations: no court has yet decided whether revocation is warranted.
What the Justice Department says
Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the statement: “Today’s announcement marks the largest denaturalization effort in modern history”. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division Brett A. Shumate said: “Every single one of these individuals lied their way into U.S. citizenship”.
The DOJ describes the cases as the largest number filed in a single period under the Trump administration. Among the defendants, Mexico is the most common country of origin, with 9 people, followed by Pakistan with 4. The allegations include concealing criminal records, using false identities, fraudulent marriages, immigration fraud and, in one case, acting as an agent of a foreign government.
The statement itself warns: “The claims made in the complaints are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability”.
The Minnesota case
The statement on the 40 lawsuits does not mention Minnesota. The Minnesota case being discussed these days is a different one: the DOJ announced on May 8, 2026, in a statement about 12 people, a lawsuit against Salah Osman Ahmed, 43, a native of Somalia, naturalized in 2007.
According to the DOJ, Ahmed pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists in the U.S. District Court in Minnesota on July 28, 2009. The lawsuit alleges that months after naturalizing he traveled to Somalia and joined al-Shabaab, and that for that reason he was not attached to the principles of the Constitution when he obtained citizenship. It also alleges he obtained it through deliberate concealment or falsehood. These are allegations, not a court ruling.
How denaturalization works
According to the USCIS Policy Manual, civil revocation applies when the person was not eligible to naturalize, when they deliberately concealed or falsely stated a material fact, or when they joined a prohibited organization within five years after naturalizing. The civil action is brought by the DOJ in a federal district court.
There is also a criminal route: a federal prosecutor can bring charges, usually under Section 1425 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. USCIS refers cases to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and, if ICE does not take them, can send them directly to the DOJ's Office of Immigration Litigation.
What does it mean to you?
- If you are a naturalized citizen, a lawsuit of this kind is not filed because you naturalized, but over specific accusations that citizenship was obtained unlawfully or through false or omitted information.
- The cases cited by the DOJ are based on criminal records, false identities, fraudulent marriages, or immigration fraud, according to the statement itself.
- If you receive a notice from a federal court or a letter about your naturalization, don't ignore it; consult an immigration attorney or an accredited legal aid organization.
- Keep copies of your naturalization application, your certificate, and the documents you submitted.
Legal notice: This information is general and does not replace the advice of a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice.
Keep reading
USCIS does not announce a general pause in citizenship applications, but reports warn of delays before the election.
Courts revoke the citizenship of two women for concealing crimes after becoming naturalized citizens
