25 Naturalized Citizens Face Denaturalization in 2026
What if you lied on your naturalization application years ago — and the government just found out? The Department of Justice and USCIS announced 25 new denaturalization cases filed in recent weeks, the largest single batch since the current administration took office. The charges range from hiding violent crimes to using fake identities, and they show that citizenship is not always permanent.
Since January 20, 2025, the DOJ has filed 123 civil denaturalization complaints — the most in recorded history. The 25 cases announced on August 11, 2026 are the latest wave. USCIS partnered with DOJ on all of them. The cases span 18 individuals from countries including Pakistan, Nigeria, Mexico, Ghana, and Moldova, accused of fraud, identity theft, and concealing serious crimes during the naturalization process (the legal process of becoming a U.S. citizen).
What gets citizenship revoked?
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act — the main federal law governing immigration — a naturalized citizen's citizenship can be revoked if it was obtained illegally, by hiding important facts, or by lying. The 25 new cases fall into three main categories. First, identity fraud: several individuals used fake names or multiple identities to enter the U.S. and later naturalized under a different name, hiding prior deportation orders. Second, concealed criminal conduct: some applicants had committed serious crimes — including aggravated sexual assault of a child and attempted first-degree murder — before or during naturalization, and lied about it on their applications. Third, marriage fraud: a number of cases involve sham marriages used to get a green card (lawful permanent resident status), which then became the basis for citizenship.
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The cases show how far back investigators can look. Jose Luis Martinez-Zavala, 80, naturalized in 2014 after hiding a 2010 sexual assault conviction. Francois Nguessi Dame naturalized in August 2014 while actively abusing a minor — he was convicted in 2017. Emigdio Sanchez lied at his naturalization interview in September 1998, just weeks after pleading guilty to beating his wife. Dwyane Robinson obtained citizenship through military service but was later convicted of attempted first-degree murder; because he was discharged under other than honorable conditions before completing five years of honorable service, he is now subject to denaturalization. These timelines make clear that the government can revisit naturalization decisions years or even decades later.
What to do
- Review your naturalization application honestly. If you disclosed everything accurately — your real name, all prior arrests, all marriages, all travel — your citizenship is not at risk from this type of action.
- Do not assume time protects you. These cases show the DOJ is pursuing fraud from the 1990s and 2000s. There is no statute of limitations on civil denaturalization based on fraud.
- If you have concerns about past disclosures, speak with an immigration attorney before any government contact. Lawyers recommend against making voluntary statements to USCIS or DOJ without legal counsel present.
- If you receive a court summons or notice of a denaturalization complaint, you have the right to respond in federal court. Contact an immigration attorney immediately — you have a limited window to file a legal response.
A full breakdown of this topic — in our guide “The Path to U.S. Citizenship”.
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Civil denaturalization is a federal lawsuit, not an administrative action — you have the right to a full trial in federal court, and the government must prove its case by clear and convincing evidence. If you receive a denaturalization complaint, do not ignore it or respond without an attorney: a default judgment can be entered against you if you fail to answer within the court's deadline. An experienced immigration attorney can review your naturalization file, assess the government's evidence, and build a defense — consult one as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the government take away my citizenship if I became a citizen many years ago?
Yes. There is no time limit on civil denaturalization cases based on fraud or concealment. The DOJ's current cases include people who naturalized in the 1990s and 2000s. The key question is whether you obtained citizenship legally and honestly.
What happens to my green card and immigration status if I am denaturalized?
If a court strips your citizenship, you lose U.S. citizen status. Depending on the circumstances, you could revert to lawful permanent resident (green card) status — or face removal proceedings if your green card was also obtained through fraud. Each case is different, which is why legal representation matters.
Does a criminal conviction automatically lead to denaturalization?
Not automatically. The government must show that you concealed the crime or that the conviction made you ineligible to naturalize in the first place. If you disclosed a conviction and were still approved, that is a different legal situation than hiding it.
I used a different name in the past. Does that mean I could be denaturalized?
Using a different name is not automatically a problem — but failing to disclose it on your naturalization application is. USCIS asks applicants to list all names ever used. If you answered that question honestly, you are in a much stronger position than those named in these cases.