Donald T****’s desire to strip naturalized Americans of their citizenship is not a new thing. This process is known as denaturalization. The United States has a history of doing exactly that and, in many cases, deporting them.
The Naturalization Act of 1906 was the first law in U.S. history to provide for denaturalization. Causes for denaturalization include lying or omitting information during the naturalization process, criminal activity, involvement in war crimes, terrorism or other serious offenses.
It also includes membership in prohibited organizations or affiliation with groups deemed hostile or illegal at the time of naturalization. For example, after WWII, the U.S. government pursued denaturalization against individuals accused of war crimes and Nazi collaborators.
During the McCarthy Era, denaturalization was used as a tool against individuals accused of communist affiliations or disloyalty. Remember HUAC? The Act also allowed the government to revoke citizenship for more nebulous reasons such as “racial ineligibility,” (?) or lack of “good moral character.”
By the turn of the century denaturalization had pretty much ceased, averaging about 11 cases per year from 1990 to 2017.
Following Donald Trump’s return to office in January 2025, the US Department Of Justice revived denaturalization as an enforcement priority. There has been a significant increase in cases during T****’s first few months in office for reasons traditionally associated with the Act.
The DOJ’s approach also directs prosecutors to seek cases beyond traditional targets reflecting a broader and more aggressive use of denaturalization authority. In the case of several college students and faculty members, this includes speeches and publications which are deemed to violate administration policy.
So far, Donald T**** has been unable to locate even tens of thousands, let alone his promised millions, of undocumented bad guys to deport. ICE sweeps through car washes and Home Depot parking lots have gotten bad press and stiff opposition. As his anti-immigrant program has progressed, the puppet-master’s strategy has evolved.
Now, by perverting the intent of a 110-year old law, he has directed his flunkies to create the criminals out of whole cloth. Then he can arrest and deport them later.
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