Trump administration seeks to denaturalize former U.S. ambassador and 11 others accused of fraudulently obtaining citizenship through “willful misrepresentation”

Texas – A fierce national debate over immigration, citizenship, and political identity is already intensifying in Texas, where Republican lawmakers have been pushing increasingly aggressive proposals tied to who should be allowed to live in the United States and under what conditions citizenship can be revoked. That debate exploded further after Texas Rep. Chip Roy introduced the controversial MAMDANI Act, a proposal critics say would dramatically expand the government’s power to deny entry, revoke legal status, and even strip citizenship based on ideology or alleged affiliations.

Now, the Trump administration is taking another major step in that broader crackdown — this time targeting naturalized Americans accused of hiding serious crimes or lying during the citizenship process.

The Department of Justice announced Friday that it has launched denaturalization proceedings against 12 people across the country, arguing they fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship through deception and concealment.

Federal prosecutors filed the actions in district courts nationwide, accusing the individuals of hiding major criminal conduct while applying for naturalization. According to the DOJ, the cases involve allegations ranging from terrorism-related activity to war crimes and sexual abuse offenses.

The administration argues the individuals should never have been granted citizenship in the first place.

Former Ambassador Among Those Targeted

One of the most high-profile names included in the new legal actions is Victor Manuel Rocha, the former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia.

Rocha, who was born in Colombia, is currently serving a 15-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty in a case tied to secretly working as a covert agent for the Cuban government.

The DOJ says Rocha is one of several naturalized citizens now facing possible loss of citizenship because officials believe their legal status was obtained through fraud or deception.

The broader group targeted by prosecutors ranges in age from 28 to 75 years old. According to the department, it includes five natives of African countries, three people originally from Asia, and two from South America.

Officials allege that several concealed serious criminal histories or omitted critical information during the naturalization process.

The administration claims the citizenships were “illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche framed the effort as part of a wider attempt to tighten immigration enforcement and restore integrity to the citizenship system.

“The Trump administration is taking action to correct these egregious violations of our immigration system,” Blanche said. “Those who intentionally concealed their criminal histories or misrepresented themselves during the naturalization process will face the fullest extent of the law.”

Trump Administration Expands Denaturalization Push

The latest cases are part of a much broader strategy unfolding inside the Trump administration.

Earlier this year, employees in the DOJ’s civil division were instructed through an internal memo to “maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings.” The directive outlined multiple priority categories, including people considered national security risks and immigrants facing unresolved criminal allegations.

In December, the Department of Homeland Security was also directed to prepare as many as 200 referrals for possible denaturalization review.

That marks a major escalation in a process that historically has been used only sparingly.

Research cited by immigration experts shows the U.S. government averaged roughly 11 denaturalization cases annually between 1990 and 2017. During Trump’s first administration, the number reportedly rose to around 25 cases per year.

Now, the administration appears determined to push far beyond those levels.

The legal process itself remains difficult for the government to win. Unlike many immigration matters handled administratively, denaturalization cases must go through federal court.

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the government carries a “high burden of proof” when trying to revoke citizenship. Prosecutors must provide “clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence which does not leave the issue in doubt.”

That high standard reflects the seriousness of stripping someone of American citizenship after it has already been granted.

Still, supporters of the administration’s approach argue the cases involve individuals accused of extremely serious misconduct who intentionally deceived authorities in order to become citizens.

Critics, however, fear the broader expansion of denaturalization efforts could eventually move beyond extraordinary criminal cases and create anxiety among millions of naturalized Americans.

The timing also matters politically.

The new actions arrive as immigration once again dominates national politics ahead of the 2026 elections, especially in states like Texas where Republican leaders are increasingly tying citizenship, legal status, and national identity together in campaign messaging.

What began as a narrow legal tool rarely used by the federal government is now becoming a far more visible part of the administration’s immigration agenda.

And with the DOJ openly directing officials to aggressively pursue additional cases, the fight over who can become — and remain — an American citizen appears likely to grow even more intense in the months ahead.