Yes, United States citizenship can be revoked in limited circumstances, but the answer depends on how the person became a U.S. citizen and what “revoked” means.
For a person who became a citizen through naturalization, the government may try to revoke citizenship through a legal process called denaturalization. This usually happens when the government claims the person was not legally eligible for citizenship in the first place, or that citizenship was obtained through fraud, concealment, or willful misrepresentation. U.S. law allows revocation of naturalization where citizenship was “illegally procured” or obtained by concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.
For a person who was born a U.S. citizen, citizenship generally cannot be taken away against their will. U.S. citizenship may be lost only in narrow situations where the person voluntarily performs an expatriating act with the intention of giving up U.S. nationality. The Department of State explains that loss of nationality is not automatic; the person must act voluntarily and intend to relinquish U.S. citizenship.
Revocation, Denaturalization, and Loss of Citizenship Are Not the Same Thing
People often use the phrase “citizenship revoked” broadly, but U.S. law treats different situations differently.
Denaturalization applies to naturalized citizens. It means the government asks a federal court to cancel the person’s naturalization because citizenship should not have been granted.
Loss or relinquishment of citizenship can apply to citizens by birth or naturalization, but only where the person voluntarily performs certain acts with the intent to give up U.S. nationality. These acts may include formal renunciation, certain foreign military service, certain foreign government service, or treason-related conduct.
Renunciation is a voluntary act where a U.S. citizen formally gives up citizenship, usually before a U.S. diplomatic or consular officer abroad. The Department of State says a person requesting a Certificate of Loss of Nationality based on renunciation must generally complete required steps, attend interviews, and take the oath of renunciation in person.
So, when people ask whether U.S. citizenship can be revoked, the most common legal issue is denaturalization.
Can a Naturalized U.S. Citizen Lose Citizenship?
Yes, but only under specific legal grounds. A naturalized citizen does not lose citizenship simply because the government dislikes them, because they made a minor mistake, or because they committed an ordinary offense after becoming a citizen.
The main grounds for denaturalization are:
- the person illegally procured naturalization;
- the person obtained naturalization by concealing a material fact or making a willful misrepresentation;
- the person was convicted of unlawfully procuring citizenship or naturalization;
- in certain cases, post-naturalization membership in organizations that would have prevented naturalization; or
- in certain military naturalization cases, separation from the military under conditions that affect the basis for naturalization. USCIS identifies illegal procurement, concealment of material fact, willful misrepresentation, and certain military-related grounds as bases for revocation of naturalization.
What Does “Illegally Procured” Citizenship Mean?
Citizenship is illegally procured when the person was not actually eligible to naturalize at the time citizenship was granted.
This can happen even if the person did not intentionally lie. The key issue is whether the legal requirements for naturalization were satisfied. Naturalization requirements may include lawful permanent residence, continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, attachment to the U.S. Constitution, and other statutory requirements.
For example, a naturalized citizen could face denaturalization if the government later proves that the person was not lawfully admitted as a permanent resident before naturalization, did not meet the required residence period, lacked good moral character during the required period, or obtained the underlying green card through fraud.
This does not mean every mistake on an application leads to denaturalization. The government must prove a legally valid basis for revocation.
What Counts as Fraud, Concealment, or Willful Misrepresentation?
A naturalized citizen may also face denaturalization if the government proves that citizenship was obtained by hiding an important fact or making a willful false statement.
The false or hidden fact must be material. In practical terms, that means the fact had a natural tendency to affect the government’s decision or could have led immigration officials to discover a disqualifying issue. The Supreme Court has addressed materiality in denaturalization cases, including cases involving false statements and concealment during immigration or naturalization proceedings.
Examples may include:
- hiding a serious criminal history;
- lying about identity or prior immigration history;
- concealing membership in certain barred organizations;
- failing to disclose facts that would have affected good moral character;
- obtaining a green card through a fraudulent marriage and later naturalizing;
- giving false testimony during the naturalization process.
The important question is not simply whether a statement was incorrect. The question is whether the false statement or concealment was legally significant to the person’s eligibility for citizenship.
Can Citizenship Be Revoked for Crimes Committed After Naturalization?
Usually, a crime committed after naturalization does not automatically revoke citizenship.
However, post-naturalization conduct can still create problems in certain situations. For example, if the later criminal case reveals that the person lied during the naturalization process, hid past conduct, or was not eligible for citizenship when approved, the government may try to use that information in a denaturalization case.
There are also separate loss-of-nationality rules for certain extreme conduct, such as treason or attempting by force to overthrow the United States, but the statute still requires voluntary action with the intention of relinquishing U.S. nationality.
So the key point is this: a naturalized citizen is not automatically stripped of citizenship because of a later criminal conviction, but later events may expose earlier fraud or ineligibility.
Can a U.S.-Born Citizen Have Citizenship Revoked?
Generally, no. A person born a U.S. citizen cannot normally have citizenship revoked in the same way a naturalized citizen can be denaturalized.
The Supreme Court has recognized strong constitutional protection for citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. In Afroyim v. Rusk, the Court emphasized that citizenship, once acquired, cannot be taken away by the government without the citizen’s voluntary relinquishment.
A U.S.-born citizen may still voluntarily lose citizenship through formal renunciation or another expatriating act, but the government generally must show that the person acted voluntarily and intended to give up U.S. citizenship. The Department of State makes the same point: a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization may relinquish nationality only by voluntarily performing a potentially expatriating act with intent to relinquish citizenship.
How Does the Government Revoke Naturalized Citizenship?
Citizenship is not revoked by a simple letter from USCIS.
In civil denaturalization cases, U.S. law authorizes U.S. attorneys to bring proceedings in federal district court to revoke naturalization and cancel the certificate of naturalization. The statute also requires notice to the person whose naturalization is being challenged.
There can also be criminal denaturalization. If a person is convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 1425 for unlawfully procuring naturalization or citizenship, the court must revoke and cancel the naturalization order and certificate.
The burden on the government is high. USCIS describes the burden in civil revocation cases as clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence that does not leave the issue in doubt.
What Happens If Citizenship Is Revoked?
If naturalization is revoked, the revocation is treated as effective from the original date of naturalization. USCIS explains that a person whose citizenship is revoked generally returns to the immigration status they had before becoming a citizen.
That can create serious immigration consequences. Depending on the facts, the person may become a lawful permanent resident again, or they may become subject to removal proceedings if they were not legally entitled to the immigration status that led to citizenship.
In some cases, denaturalization may also affect family members who derived citizenship through the naturalized person. U.S. law addresses circumstances where spouses or children who claimed citizenship through a parent or spouse’s naturalization may lose citizenship after that naturalization is revoked.
Because the consequences can be severe, anyone facing a denaturalization investigation, federal court complaint, or criminal naturalization fraud allegation should speak with an immigration attorney immediately.
Can Someone Give Up U.S. Citizenship Voluntarily?
Yes. A U.S. citizen may voluntarily renounce citizenship, usually outside the United States before a U.S. consular officer. But this is a serious and generally irreversible step.
The Department of State warns that a person who loses U.S. nationality may need a visa to return to the United States, may become stateless if they do not have another nationality, and may remain responsible for certain tax, military, criminal, or financial obligations.
Renunciation is not a shortcut to avoid legal obligations. It also does not automatically erase past tax duties, criminal exposure, child support obligations, or other responsibilities.
Common Questions About Revocation of U.S. Citizenship
Can USCIS revoke citizenship by itself?
Not in the usual denaturalization sense. Denaturalization generally requires a federal court process or a criminal conviction tied to unlawful procurement of citizenship. USCIS may investigate, refer, or take related administrative action, but revocation of naturalization is handled through the legal procedures provided by federal law.
Can citizenship be revoked for lying on the N-400?
Yes, if the lie was willful and material, or if it shows the person was not legally eligible for naturalization. A small mistake is not the same as fraud, but false statements about criminal history, identity, immigration history, marriage, residence, or good moral character can become serious.
Can a naturalized citizen be deported?
A U.S. citizen cannot be deported while they remain a citizen. But if naturalization is revoked, the person may lose the protection of citizenship and could become subject to removal depending on their immigration status and case history.
Can dual citizenship cause loss of U.S. citizenship?
Having dual citizenship by itself does not automatically cause loss of U.S. citizenship. Loss of nationality generally requires a voluntary expatriating act and intent to relinquish U.S. citizenship.
Can voting in another country cause loss of U.S. citizenship?
Not automatically. The legal question is whether the person voluntarily performed an expatriating act with the intention of giving up U.S. nationality. Running for certain foreign public offices, serving in certain foreign government roles, or taking certain oaths may raise legal questions, but intent matters.
Speak With an Immigration Attorney if Citizenship Is Being Questioned
U.S. citizenship is one of the strongest legal statuses a person can have, but naturalized citizens may face denaturalization if the government claims citizenship was obtained unlawfully or by fraud. These cases are serious and can affect a person’s right to remain in the United States, travel, sponsor family members, and keep the benefits of citizenship.
If you received a notice, investigation request, subpoena, federal complaint, or criminal charge related to your naturalization, AB Legal can help you understand the risk, review the facts, and determine the best legal response.
