Can USCIS take away my citizenship?

Not by itself. USCIS can refer a case. Only a federal court can revoke naturalization, either in a civil case filed by the Department of Justice or after a criminal conviction. The Policy Manual notes that a 1996 attempt to let the agency revoke citizenship administratively was struck down by a federal appeals court in 2000.

What are the grounds?

Illegal procurement, meaning you did not meet a requirement when you naturalized, even without any intent to deceive. Concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation, meaning you hid or lied about something that could have affected the decision. Joining certain organizations barred by INA 313 within five years after naturalizing. And, for people naturalized through military service on or after November 23, 2003, an other than honorable discharge before five years of honorable service.

I committed a crime after I became a citizen. Can that be used?

The Policy Manual says the government generally cannot start revocation against someone who was eligible when naturalized but committed crimes after naturalization. What matters is whether you were eligible, and truthful, at the time.

Is there a time limit?

For civil revocation, no. The Policy Manual says it may occur at any point after naturalization. For criminal denaturalization, there is a 10-year limit, but cases past that limit may be referred for civil revocation.

How hard is it for the government to win?

In a civil case, the government must prove its case by “clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence which does not leave the issue in doubt.” In a criminal case, it must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The person also gets 60 days’ notice to answer a civil case under INA 340(b), unless they waive it.

How does USCIS find cases?

Through officers’ reviews of files, including when a citizen files Form I-130 for a relative or an N-600 or N-600K citizenship application; automated screening tools for fraud and security concerns; headquarters or DHS reviews; and requests from other agencies such as the State Department.

What happens if citizenship is revoked?

Revocation is effective as of the original naturalization date. The person goes back to the immigration status they had before, and is entitled to proof of that status. They must surrender the naturalization certificate. USCIS notifies ICE, the State Department and other agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and the state’s Secretary of State, and may review petitions the person filed for others.

Does it affect my spouse or children?

It can, if they became citizens through you. If revocation is for concealment or willful misrepresentation, a spouse or child who got citizenship through that person loses it too. If it is for illegal procurement, they do not. For the organization and military grounds, they lose it only if they live outside the United States at the time.

Is this different from cancelling a certificate?

Yes. USCIS can cancel a certificate that was itself obtained or created illegally or fraudulently, but that affects only the document. It applies to people who never completed the naturalization process. Revocation is what takes away citizenship, and it needs a court.

USCIS Updates How It Refers Denaturalization Cases (2026)

Executive summary

On September 14, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Alert PA-2026-13. It rewrites Volume 12, Part L of the Policy Manual, now titled “Loss of U.S. Nationality and Revocation of Naturalization.” The guidance took effect immediately.

USCIS says the update reorganizes existing guidance to make the prioritization of cases clearer. It says the update does not otherwise change the circumstances under which a naturalized citizen can lose citizenship. The alert also states that the vast majority of people who naturalize do so lawfully.

USCIS cannot take away citizenship by itself. Under INA 340, the Department of Justice must file a case in federal district court, or a person must be convicted of a naturalization crime under 18 U.S.C. 1425. Revocation is complete only after a court enters a final order.

The grounds are narrow. The main ones are that the person was not eligible when naturalized (illegal procurement), or that they hid or lied about a material fact to get citizenship. In a civil case, the government must prove this by clear, convincing and unequivocal evidence.

The update lists the types of cases USCIS prioritizes for referral, such as national security, serious crimes, human rights abuses, fraud, false identity, unlawful voting and marriage fraud. USCIS refers cases to ICE, and may refer directly to DOJ if ICE declines.

What the update means, in plain English

If you became a U.S. citizen through naturalization, you are a citizen. The Policy Manual says that even a person who was not eligible but completed the process is a citizen “unless and until” a court revokes it.

Citizenship can be taken away only in limited situations. The most common are that the person did not meet a requirement at the time, such as residence or good moral character, or that they lied or hid an important fact during the process. The government generally cannot start a case against someone who was eligible when naturalized but committed a crime later.

USCIS does not decide. It can only refer a case to ICE or to the Department of Justice. A federal judge decides. The person gets notice and time to answer, and the government must meet a high standard of proof.

What this update adds is a clearer list of which cases USCIS looks at first, and a statement that USCIS checks how a citizen got citizenship when that person files a petition for a relative or a citizenship certificate.

What the policy says

A naturalized citizen is subject to revocation if naturalization was procured illegally, or by concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation (INA 340(a)). Naturalization can be revoked through a civil case under INA 340 or after a criminal conviction under 18 U.S.C. 1425.
The update reorganizes Volume 12, Part L to clarify prioritization. USCIS states it does not otherwise change the existing guidance on when a naturalized citizen is subject to revocation (PA-2026-13).
For any pending or future petition or application tied to a U.S. citizen, USCIS determines whether the petitioner lawfully obtained citizenship. Case review can include Forms I-130, N-600 and N-600K.
Civil cases are filed by DOJ in federal district court. The government must prove its case by clear, convincing and unequivocal evidence that does not leave the issue in doubt. Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Civil revocation has no statute of limitations. Criminal denaturalization has a 10-year limit, and criminal cases past that limit may be referred for civil revocation.
USCIS prioritizes referrals to ICE in listed categories, including national security, egregious public safety, human rights violations, criminal gangs and cartels, undisclosed felonies, trafficking, sex offenses and violent crimes, financial fraud, false identity, false claims to citizenship, unlawful voting before naturalization, and marriage fraud. USCIS may refer directly to DOJ’s Office of Immigration Litigation if ICE declines.
After a person is denaturalized, USCIS may review pending or previously approved petitions the person filed for relatives or other beneficiaries.
Effective immediately on September 14, 2026.