DOJ files largest denaturalization action, targeting 40 foreign‑born criminals
On Oct. 7 2026 the Department of Justice filed its largest single‑period denaturalization action, seeking to revoke naturalized U.S. citizenship from 40 foreign‑born individuals convicted of serious offenses.
The filings, announced by Attorney General Todd Blanche, represent the most extensive effort to date to strip naturalized status from foreign nationals and are a centerpiece of the denaturalization initiative launched under President Donald Trump to protect the integrity of U.S. citizenship.
"Today’s announcement marks the largest denaturalization effort in modern history," Blanche said at a press conference. "From an individual convicted of espionage to others convicted of sexual offenses against minors, these defendants concealed critical facts from the U.S. government and represent serious criminal offenders."
DOJ spokesperson Brett A. Shumate added, "Every single one of these individuals lied their way into U.S. citizenship. This administration will continue to pursue the largest denaturalization effort in department history to restore trust and integrity in U.S. citizenship."
Among the first cases disclosed are 47‑year‑old Yusmary Shirley Duran Mejia of Colombia, a Florida resident who failed to disclose a prior money‑laundering conviction, and 50‑year‑old Iain Lumsden of the United Kingdom, who concealed a child‑pornography conviction when applying for citizenship.
Other defendants include Gume Roberto Garza (Mexico), who used multiple aliases and a stolen driver’s license to obtain naturalization while committing drug offenses; Ramiro Escot Esparza (Mexico), who hidden multiple acts of sexual misconduct against a minor; and Javier Marrero‑Pando (Cuba), who lied about an aggravated sodomy conviction that resulted in a life‑sentence with a 15‑year suspension.
The spectrum of alleged wrongdoing spans from immigration fraud to national‑security threats. Jinchao Wei, a Chinese national, is accused of espionage for the People’s Republic of China after enlisting in the U.S. Navy and selling military secrets. Ping Li faces a charge of acting as an undeclared foreign agent for China, while Ralph Nabavi is alleged to have evaded $12.5 million in federal taxes before naturalizing.
All defendants are charged under 18 U.S.C. § 1015(a) for obtaining citizenship by false statements, concealment of material facts, or lack of good moral character. The complaints were filed in district courts ranging from the Southern District of Texas to the Eastern District of Virginia, and each case will proceed through a denaturalization hearing where the government must prove the unlawful procurement of citizenship.
If a court revokes citizenship, the individuals will lose their naturalized status and become subject to removal proceedings, potentially facing deportation in addition to any criminal penalties already imposed.
The DOJ says the action sends a clear message that deception in the naturalization process will not be tolerated, and it plans to continue pursuing denaturalization cases as more evidence of fraud emerges.