The United States government has filed what it calls the “largest single-period filing” in court under President Donald Trump to revoke the citizenship of 40 individuals, including two Nigerian nationals, as part of its intensified anti-immigration enforcement efforts. The denaturalisation complaints were submitted between August 21 and October 2, 2026, across multiple U.S. district courts, targeting people convicted of serious crimes such as acting as agents for foreign governments, voluntary manslaughter, and aggravated sodomy. This marks a significant escalation in the administration’s use of denaturalisation to address perceived threats to national security and immigration integrity.
The Department of Justice announced that the actions were taken under the Immigration and Nationality Act, with each case alleging fraud or concealment during the naturalisation process. Among those named are Beatrice Chioma Nwaoha Ashamole, a 54-year-old woman from Nigeria, accused of failing to disclose prior criminal records, aliases, arrests, and deportation orders when applying for U.S. citizenship. Prosecutors in the District of Maryland have filed a complaint seeking her denaturalisation, citing false testimony and material omissions during her application.
The second Nigerian national listed is Semiu Olaiye Ijelu, a 58-year-old man charged with using two different identities to apply for immigration benefits. He allegedly failed to reveal a prior deportation order when he applied for permanent residency after marrying a U.S. citizen in 2009. Authorities argue that his naturalisation was obtained through concealment and willful misrepresentation, and they are now seeking to revoke his citizenship in the Northern District of Georgia.
Other defendants include Douglas Chukwuka Eze, whose nationality is listed as unknown, Ifeolu Samuel Akingbemisilu, a 58-year-old from Sierra Leone, and Norma Patricia Esparza from Mexico, among others. Each case involves serious criminal convictions or deliberate deception during the immigration process.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche described the action as “the largest denaturalisation effort in modern history.” He emphasized that the defendants range from individuals convicted of espionage to those found guilty of sexual offenses against minors, all of whom concealed critical information from federal authorities. Blanche stated that under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice remains committed to using denaturalisation to safeguard national security and uphold public trust in the immigration system.
This move underscores the administration’s broader strategy to tighten immigration controls and ensure that citizenship is granted only to those who meet strict legal and moral standards. As the U.S. continues to review naturalisation cases, the implications for immigrants and dual nationals remain significant, particularly for those with complex legal histories.
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