Today, Explained Revoking US citizenship
106 snips
Jul 24, 2025 
Nicole Norea, a senior politics reporter at Vox, and Amanda Frost, a UVA law professor and author, dive into the complex issue of denaturalization. They discuss the recent DOJ memo and its ties to citizenship revocation, raising concerns about its implications for immigrant communities and political motivations. The conversation also journeys through America’s troubling history with denaturalization, highlighting pivotal moments like the Dred Scott decision and the Expatriation Act, revealing deep-rooted patterns of disenfranchisement and civil rights struggles.
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Expanded DOJ Denaturalization Effort
- The DOJ memo expands denaturalization efforts against those who procured citizenship illegally or committed serious crimes.
- It also lowers proof standards and encourages action even without criminal convictions, widening DOJ's discretion.
High-Profile Denaturalization Threats
- Donald Trump publicly threatened denaturalization of individuals like Elon Musk and NYC mayoral candidate Mabdani.
- These threats mix political retribution with targeting critics of government policies.
Legal Grounds for Denaturalization
- Denaturalization can happen if citizenship was obtained by fraud or if the person exhibits poor moral character.
- Broad clauses like "good moral character" allow potential overreach and political misuse under national security pretenses.
