The Department of Justice is currently urging its attorneys to pursue denaturalization of naturalized citizens who have engaged in criminal activities, thereby putting Rep. Ilhan Omar in a precarious position.
A memo dated June 11 instructs DOJ attorneys within the Civil Division to seek denaturalization for immigrants deemed a threat to national security or those who acquired citizenship through fraudulent means by concealing prior offenses, as reported by The Hill.
However, the memo extends its reach even further.
It enumerates additional qualifying crimes and permits attorneys to focus on individuals who are still under investigation, not solely those who have been convicted. This includes individuals with “pending criminal charges,” as stated in the document.
The memo advocates for denaturalization of individuals “who pose a potential threat to national security, including those linked to terrorism” or who “committed felonies that were not disclosed during the naturalization process” or made “material misrepresentations.”
Furthermore, it explicitly states that no case is off-limits. The Civil Division is authorized to engage in “any other cases referred to the Civil Division that the Division determines to be sufficiently important to pursue.”
Joyce Vance, a former U.S. attorney and current law professor appointed by President Obama, criticized the policy in a blog entry.
“The provision is so vague that it would allow the Division to denaturalize for nearly any reason. It could pertain to actions taken before or after naturalization. Considering the other priorities outlined in the memo, it could involve exercising First Amendment rights or promoting diversity in hiring, now redefined as fraud against the United States. Are troublesome journalists who are naturalized citizens at risk? What about students? University professors? Infectious disease specialists who attempt to disclose the truth about epidemics? Lawyers?” she expressed.
“All are now susceptible to the whims of an administration that has demonstrated a tendency to deport individuals without due process and address issues that arise post-fact.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier recently stated that Rep. Omar should be deported due to her remarks regarding President Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C., as reported by The Hill.
“Denaturalize and Deport,” Uthmeier commented in a repost of a clip from Democracy Now! that showcased Omar.
In the clip, Omar expressed that the United States “is turning into one of the worst countries on earth.”
“I grew up in a dictatorship, and I don’t even recall witnessing anything like that,” she remarked, in reference to the parade.
“To have a democracy, a beacon of hope for the world, now transformed into one of the worst countries where the military occupies our streets without any consideration for people’s constitutional rights. While our president spends millions of dollars to elevate himself like a failed dictator with a military parade. It is truly shocking,” she stated.
Omar also pointed out that the deployment of troops to Los Angeles to manage protests coincided with the parade, which commemorated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and occurred on President Trump’s birthday and Flag Day.
Omar is not the only individual facing demands for deportation or denaturalization.
When asked on Tuesday if he would contemplate deporting Elon Musk for his criticism of his “big, beautiful bill,” Trump replied, “I don’t know. I think we’ll have to take a look. We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible,” alluding to the Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk assisted in establishing.
Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee also advocated for revoking the citizenship of Zohran Mamdani, a progressive candidate who recently won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Mamdani was born in Uganda.
