WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has ordered the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to step up efforts to revoke citizenship from foreign-born naturalized Americans accused of fraud. The agency now aims to send 100 to 200 denaturalization cases each month to the Justice Department by fiscal 2026, according to new internal guidance. This marks a big increase from past years, where denaturalization cases were rare and tightly controlled. USCIS officials are told to prioritize cases involving those who "unlawfully obtained US citizenship" through fraud during naturalization. A Justice Department memo from June 2025 named denaturalization a top enforcement priority, focusing on gang members, drug cartel affiliates, financial fraudsters, and violent criminals. Immigration advocates fear the push is too broad, especially with rising anti-immigrant feelings in MAGA circles. Major groups affected could include naturalized Americans from Mexico, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. For example, Mexico saw over 100,000 naturalizations in both 2023 and 2024, and India had nearly 50,000 to 60,000. Denaturalization is allowed only if the government proves citizenship was gained through serious fraud or criminal acts like terrorism. The law demands "clear, unequivocal, and convincing" evidence in federal court. Historically, the US averaged 11 denaturalization cases per year from 1990 to 2017. Under Trump’s first term, about 100 cases were filed in four years. The Biden administration filed 24 cases; in 2025, they have pursued 13 cases so far. Under the new guidance, USCIS expects to refer up to 2,400 cases yearly, a huge rise. Officials say this is needed to protect citizenship integrity. Matthew Tragesser, USCIS spokesperson, said the "war on fraud" targets people who lied or misrepresented themselves, often under prior administrations. However, critics warn that setting quotas risks turning a serious and rare legal tool into a blunt weapon. Sarah Pierce, a former USCIS official, called the targets "arbitrary numerical targets" that threaten fairness. Amanda Baran, also a former USCIS senior official, stressed that citizenship is "too precious and fundamental to our democracy" to be reduced to a numbers game. Civil rights groups fear the quotas may cause mistakes and create fear. Margy O’Herron of the Brennan Center for Justice warns high targets could lead to errors like those seen in deportations. Immigration advocates worry this will make citizenship feel less secure, creating a two-tier system for millions of naturalized Americans.