Overview

• The DOJ Civil Division’s June directive instructs prosecutors to prioritize denaturalization on expansive grounds such as national security threats, violent crimes, and application misrepresentations.
• Civil denaturalization proceedings eliminate the right to counsel, apply a clear and convincing evidence standard, and impose no statute of limitations on revocation.
• Representative Andy Ogles has formally requested that the DOJ investigate New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani under the new policy for alleged ties to a group convicted of supporting Hamas.
• Elon Musk has been publicly mentioned by administration officials as a potential target, stoking fears of political retribution against high-profile naturalized citizens.
• Legal scholars caution that the memo’s vague “sufficiently important” referral clause risks arbitrary enforcement and could chill speech among the 24.5 million naturalized Americans.