Can United States Citizenship Be Revoked?

Becoming a United States citizen is a dream for many and can be exciting when achieved. While it is rare, certain circumstances can result in citizenship being revoked. If you are facing denaturalization and require representation contact a skilled deportation and removal defense attorney in NYC.

How Can People Become Citizens of the U.S.?

There are two ways in which a person can become a United States citizen, the first of which is through birth. When a person is born on U.S. soil as in any of the 50 states or in Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, they are automatically considered an American citizen. Jus soli is a principle that states that citizenship is acquired by birth within a territory. Jus soli translates to “right of the soil.” You can also be born a United States citizen through jus sanguinis, or “right of blood.” Certain people born outside of the U.S. are considered citizens because of the citizenship of their parents.

The second way that a person can become a citizen of the U.S. is through naturalization. For foreign citizens, naturalization is the process of becoming a United States citizen. To become a citizen when you were born outside of the U.S. you must complete certain documents, attend interviews, and take the oath of allegiance to the United States. Once you are approved in each step of the naturalization process you can be awarded citizenship.

Under What Circumstances Can U.S. Citizenship Be Revoked?

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution states that the government cannot revoke citizenship from a natural-born citizen. However, a citizen born on U.S. soil can renounce their citizenship if they wish.

Citizens who immigrated to the United States and obtained citizenship through naturalization can have their citizenship revoked under certain circumstances. Citizenship revocation of a naturalized U.S. citizen is known as denaturalization. While denaturalization is not a common occurrence, it has seen an increase in cases in the past few years. The following are some reasons that a naturalized citizen may face denaturalization.

• If you lied during the naturalization process and you get caught you could face denaturalization. It is important to be honest in every step of the immigration process. If you lied, for example, about your criminal history, and it was not detected you may be granted citizenship anyway. However, if if your dishonestly is later discovered your citizenship may be revoked.
• Your citizenship may also be revoked if you are found to have joined a renegade group that is considered a threat to national security, such as Al Qaeda.
• If you obtained naturalization by joining the U.S. military you could face denaturalization if you were dishonorably discharged.
• If you are found to be a part of a renegade group or if you committed subversive acts you may be asked to testify before Congress. Refusal to testify can result in the government revoking your citizenship.
• If you are found to have illegally obtained citizenship in any way it can be revoked.