Fifteen years. That’s how long this Chicago man has held his U.S. citizenship. Now the federal government wants to take it away. Here’s the thing — this isn’t some rare, one-off situation. It’s a warning sign for every naturalized citizen who’s had immigration issues in their past. If you’re worried about your own status, or you know someone who should be, you need to understand what denaturalization actually means. And you need to know what to do about it now, not later.
Background: What This Case Means
(cite index=”2-2″>A Chicago man naturalized as a U.S. citizen 15 years ago faces being stripped of his citizenship and deported, a legal filing reviewed by Newsweek confirmed. (cite index=”2-4″>The complaint, filed in Illinois court on October 7, alleges that Emmanuel Tayo Akinkunmi, who was born in Nigeria, “procured his naturalization unlawfully” and that he had “willfully misrepresented and concealed material facts in applying to naturalize.” We’ve seen cases like this before, and they rarely end well for the person caught in the middle.
Dig into the government’s filing and the story goes back decades. (cite index=”1-5,1-6,1-7″>Before that, under a different identity, he abandoned his green-card status in 1993. He was subsequently ordered excluded from the U.S. The Board of Immigration Appeals upheld the decision in 1997. (cite index=”2-5″>That application was approved in 2000. (cite index=”2-6″>The complaint alleges that Akinkunmi “was never lawfully admitted to the United States as a permanent resident” and that he sought admission and other benefits by “fraud” or “willfully misrepresenting a material fact.” Old mistakes don’t just disappear. They can resurface years — even decades — later. That’s the reality our clients need to hear, even when it’s hard.
This case is not isolated. President Donald Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration upon his return to the White House in January 2025, but his administration has also looked at those who entered the U.S. legally, with multiple reports detailing detainment at interviews for green cards and citizenships. In April, the Trump administration told Newsweek that it planned to drastically increase the number of denaturalizations. A Justice Department official said in a news release, “Every single one of these individuals lied their way into U.S. citizenship.”
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency and the Department of Justice have also announced related denaturalization actions against other naturalized citizens, including people accused of hiding criminal records before becoming citizens, according to a USCIS news release.
How This Affects Naturalized Citizens and Their Families
Denaturalization is a civil court process, not a criminal one. The government files a complaint in federal district court. It asks a judge to cancel a person’s citizenship. If the judge agrees, the person goes back to being a lawful permanent resident, or sometimes loses even that status. This can lead to removal (deportation) proceedings.
There are legal limits on this power. The U.S. Supreme Court has in the past imposed limits on the government’s power to revoke citizenship. The 2017 case, Maslenjak v. United States, saw the court hold that an illegal act during the naturalization process must have played a role in obtaining citizenship. This means the government generally cannot strip someone of citizenship over a minor or unrelated error. Any denaturalization cases are likely to trigger legal challenges.
This case affects more than one person. Naturalized citizens across the country may worry about old immigration history, past green card abandonment, old deportation or exclusion orders, or statements made years ago on immigration forms. Spouses, children, and other family members connected through family-based immigration petitions can also be affected if a sponsor’s status is later questioned. Anyone who obtained a green card or citizenship through a family-based immigration petition, and later naturalized, may want to review their file with this news in mind.
What You Should Do Now
- Gather your immigration paperwork. Collect your green card application, naturalization application (Form N-400), and any old immigration court orders.
- Check for inconsistencies. Compare answers given on different forms over the years. Look for anything that might appear incomplete or inconsistent.
- Do not ignore any mail from USCIS, the Department of Justice, or a federal court. A denaturalization complaint is filed in federal court, and deadlines to respond are strict.
- Avoid traveling internationally until you understand your current status, especially if you have any past orders of exclusion, deportation, or removal.
- Talk with an immigration attorney before you answer any government questions or sign any new documents related to your case.
- Review related family petitions. If you sponsored a relative, understand how a change in your status could affect their pending or approved case.
As of October 12, 2026, denaturalization complaints must be filed in U.S. District Court, and the government carries the burden of proving its case with clear and convincing evidence. You can review the relevant federal statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1451, which governs revocation of naturalization.
How TEZ Law Firm Can Help
TEZ Law Firm reviews naturalization and green card history for clients who are concerned about a denaturalization complaint, an old exclusion or removal order, or questions from USCIS about past applications. The firm can help clients understand the removal proceedings and immigration court process if a case moves in that direction, and can assist with related family-based immigration matters that may be connected to a naturalization case. For a general overview of services, visit the immigration law page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is denaturalization?
Denaturalization is a civil court process where the U.S. government asks a federal judge to cancel a person’s citizenship. This can happen if the government shows that citizenship was obtained illegally, or through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.
Can I lose my citizenship for something I did many years ago?
Under Maslenjak v. United States, an illegal act during the naturalization process must have played a role in obtaining citizenship. Old events can still matter if the government can connect them to the naturalization decision, so it generally depends on the specific facts of each case.
Does denaturalization automatically lead to deportation?
Not automatically, but it can lead to removal proceedings. Once a person is no longer a citizen, their immigration status may fall back to a prior status, such as lawful permanent resident, or in some cases to no lawful status at all, which can trigger a separate removal case.
Is denaturalization becoming more common?
In April, the Trump administration told Newsweek that it planned to drastically increase the number of denaturalizations. Naturalized citizens with any history of past immigration violations may want to review their records given this shift in enforcement priorities.
What should I do if I receive a denaturalization complaint?
Read the document carefully and note any response deadline listed by the court. Contact an immigration attorney promptly, since denaturalization cases are filed in federal district court and generally require a formal legal response within a set time period.
If you have questions about a naturalization case, an old green card issue, or a family-based immigration matter, you can schedule a consultation with TEZ Law Firm. JJ Zhang, founding attorney of TEZ Law Firm (California Bar #326666), leads a firm with offices in West Covina, City of Industry, and Newport Beach, California, along with an immigration-focused office in Flushing, New York. Visit the contact page to schedule a consultation and discuss your situation.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and agency practices change; contact TEZ Law Firm (West Covina, California) at 626-678-8677 or [email protected] about your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.