U.S. Justice Department Targets 40 in Historic Denaturalisation

On October 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a historic denaturalisation effort, filing actions against 40 individuals across multiple federal courts.

Attorney General Todd Blanche stated this is the largest such initiative in modern history. The individuals targeted are accused of offenses ranging from submitting fraudulent identities during the citizenship application process to serious crimes like voluntary manslaughter and aggravated sodomy against a person with special needs.

Among those named are Balwinder Singh from California, who allegedly submitted immigration applications under different identities, and Jinchao Wei, a former U.S. Navy sailor who was convicted of espionage after obtaining citizenship through military service.

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate emphasized that all individuals deceived the government to gain citizenship, and the Justice Department aims to restore trust in the naturalisation process. The actions are based on the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows for revocation of citizenship obtained through illegal means.