Nigerians living in the United States could be affected as the U.S. government moves to intensify efforts to revoke citizenship from naturalised Americans, following new immigration directives tied to former President Donald Trump’s policy agenda.
Officials say the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is redeploying staff and immigration experts across field offices to aggressively identify potential denaturalisation cases. This initiative is expected to produce 100 to 200 cases monthly, a sharp increase from the 102 cases filed over four years during Trump’s first term, according to Eyes Of Lagos.
Denaturalisation is the legal process through which the U.S. government strips citizenship previously granted to immigrants, usually for fraud, misrepresentation, or concealing criminal records during naturalisation. USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser stressed that investigations are launched only when credible evidence exists. He said the agency works closely with the Department of Justice to safeguard the integrity of the immigration system.
Authorities indicated that cases would focus on individuals tied to national security threats, war crimes, torture, government fraud, and other serious offences. The expanded review is part of a wider enforcement strategy that includes mass deportations, visa cancellations, increased detention capacity, and targeted removal of some green card holders.
The Justice Department has instructed its attorneys nationwide to prioritise denaturalisation, with trained personnel deployed across over 80 USCIS field offices to accelerate investigations. Trump has long advocated for restrictive interpretations of U.S. citizenship and challenged birthright citizenship, calling for the removal of migrants he sees as threats to national stability.
Despite the heightened enforcement, experts note that revoking citizenship is uncommon and legally complex. Former USCIS official Doug Rand emphasised that no president can unilaterally strip citizenship. Around 800,000 immigrants become naturalised U.S. citizens annually, after meeting requirements such as permanent residency, English proficiency, civic knowledge, and good moral character.
