By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBT Politics USA
DOJ Memo Signals Shift Toward Citizenship Revocation
WASHINGTON, D.C — (July 2, 2025) — The Department of Justice has issued a directive prioritizing denaturalization cases—legal efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans who allegedly lied or omitted key information during their immigration process.
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In a memo released June 11, Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate stated the DOJ’s Civil Division will now treat denaturalization as a top-five enforcement priority.
The move dramatically expands prosecutorial discretion, effectively giving U.S. attorneys more freedom to revoke citizenship in civil court.
Civil Trials: Fast, Silent — and No Lawyer Required
Civil denaturalization cases are not criminal proceedings, meaning:
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Defendants are not guaranteed an attorney
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The burden of proof is lower
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Cases can move swiftly, often with little public scrutiny1
Cassandra Robertson, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, warns this opens the door to due process violations, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants from marginalized communities.
“This sidesteps the 14th Amendment,” said Robertson. “Stripping Americans of citizenship without full legal protection is deeply unconstitutional.”
Could LGBTQ or Black Naturalized Citizens Be Next?
While the DOJ memo doesn’t name target groups, critics fear the policy’s broad discretion could result in selective enforcement.
JRL CHARTS legal analysts warn this may become a gateway to targeting LGBTQ+, Black, Muslim, and Latinx naturalized citizens—especially those with controversial political views or past criminal records.
The First Case: A Warning Shot?
On June 13, a federal judge revoked the citizenship of Elliott Duke, a UK-born U.S. military veteran and nonbinary individual, following a criminal conviction tied to child abuse material. Duke reportedly admitted to the crime prior to naturalization2.
While serious, civil rights advocates say this case is being used as cover for a wider expansion of revocation powers.
Heritage Foundation Supports Expansion
Hans von Spakovsky, a legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, defended the policy:
“The DOJ has every right to remove citizenship from predators, criminals, and terrorists,” he said. “No one is entitled to a taxpayer-funded lawyer in civil court.”
Historical Echoes: McCarthyism & Trump Redux
Denaturalization was once a McCarthy-era tactic used to purge communists, Nazi affiliates, and political dissidents.
That precedent expanded under President Obama and ballooned under Trump’s first term.
Now, under Trump 2.0, the policy is no longer just about who gets in — it’s about who gets to stay.
What Comes Next?
The DOJ and White House declined comment when contacted by JRL CHARTS LGBT Politics USA.
But with Trump already pushing to end birthright citizenship, slash refugee admissions, and redefine gender and sex under federal law, LGBTQ and civil rights organizations are watching this denaturalization push with deep concern.
Footnotes:
[^1]: Denaturalization via civil court has no guarantee of legal representation and operates under a “preponderance of evidence” threshold.
[^2]: Elliott Duke was convicted of child sexual abuse material distribution — a rare but high-profile trigger case used to justify broader DOJ action.
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