DOJ memo outlines plans for prioritizing denaturalization aka yanking US citizenship of individuals charged with certain crimes
The Justice Department will prioritize revoking the US citizenship of individuals charged with certain crimes, according to a memo issued by the agency earlier this month. “The Civil Division shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence,” read a June 11 “enforcement priorities” memo sent by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate to all employees within the DOJ’s Civil Division. Shumate noted that the civil division has established several “categories of priorities for denaturalization cases” in order to “promote the pursuit of all viable denaturalization cases … and maintain the integrity of the naturalization system while simultaneously ensuring an appropriate allocation of resources.” The 10 categories of crimes that could lead to citizenship being stripped range from “war crimes” to COVID loan fraud, according to the memo. Individuals “who pose a potential danger to national security, including those with a nexus to terrorism, espionage, or the unlawful export from the United States of sensitive goods, technology, or information raising national security concerns” will be among those prioritized for denaturalization. As will individuals who “further or furthered the unlawful enterprise of criminal gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and drug cartels.” Various forms of fraud are also listed in the memo, including “Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud and Medicaid/Medicare fraud” and “fraud against private individuals, funds, or corporations.” The DOJ will also target “individuals who committed human trafficking, sex offenses, or violent crimes.”Naturalized citizens who didn’t disclose previous felonies during the process or acquired their citizenship through “government corruption” or “misrepresentation” could also be subject to prioritized denaturalization proceedings. “Any other cases referred to the...