The United States Department of Justice has filed denaturalization actions in multiple federal district courts against 40 naturalised citizens, including two Nigerians, in what officials describe as the largest such effort in modern history.
The complaints were lodged between 21 August and 2 October 2026. The department says the individuals are accused of serious criminal conduct, including acting as an agent of a foreign government, voluntary manslaughter, and aggravated sodomy against a man with special needs. Officials state that the filings represent the highest volume of denaturalization complaints submitted in a single period under the Trump administration.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a naturalised citizen may lose citizenship, and the certificate of naturalization may be cancelled, where citizenship was illegally procured or obtained by concealment of a material fact or by wilful misrepresentation.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the announcement marked the largest denaturalization effort in modern history. He stated that the defendants, ranging from an individual convicted of espionage to others convicted of sexual offences against minors, had concealed critical facts from the United States government and were serious criminal offenders. He added that, under President Trump, the department would continue to use denaturalization to protect national security and the American people.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, who leads the Civil Division, said every one of the individuals had lied their way into United States citizenship. He said the administration would continue the largest denaturalization effort in the department’s history in order to restore trust and integrity in citizenship, and that the United States would not tolerate deception in the naturalization process.
Among those named are two Nigerian nationals.
Beatrice Chioma Nwaoha Ashamole, 54, is the subject of a complaint filed on 25 September in the District of Maryland, case 1:26 cv 03796. The department alleges that she failed to disclose prior aliases, prior arrests, a prior immigration application, and earlier exclusions and deportations. It claims her citizenship was illegally procured through fraud and false testimony.
Semiu Olaiye Ijelu, 58, also known as Samiu O. Ijelu and Olaiya S. Ijely, is the subject of a complaint filed on 2 October in the Northern District of Georgia. The department says that, before he became a citizen, he sought immigration benefits under two separate identities and was ordered removed. Rather than leave the United States, he married a United States citizen, used that marriage to adjust his status to permanent resident, and naturalised in 2009. During those proceedings he did not disclose the other identities or the final removal order. The United States alleges that he did not lawfully adjust status, lacked the good moral character required for naturalization, and procured citizenship by concealment of material facts and wilful misrepresentations. It asks the court to revoke his naturalization.
By A.Ikechukwu
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