June 8 (UPI) — The Trump administration said Monday that it is trying to revoke the citizenship of 17 people accused of immigration fraud.
The Justice Department announced that it filed denaturalization actions in U.S. district courts across the country. The 17 people targeted for denaturalization were accused of offenses including sexual abuse of a minor, wire and bank fraud, and drug distribution without a license.
The department cited the Immigration and Nationality Act which says citizenship can be revoked if the naturalization “was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.”
“When criminal aliens exploit the naturalization process by breaking the law, there are consequences,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “Criminal aliens are lying about their past crimes, including drug dealers, sexual predators, and fraudsters.”
One of President Donald Trump‘s first actions when he returned to the White House last year was signing an executive order attempting to expand denaturalization of U.S. citizens. The Justice Department expanded the criteria for people who are prioritized for denaturalization, following this order.
Last month, the Justice Department announced 12 new denaturalization cases.
The Justice Department opened 24 denaturalization cases under the Biden administration. The Trump administration has surpassed that number in the last year.
