'Vagueness over who qualifies': Joyce Vance reacts to DOJ plans to strip some of citizenship

Legal & Policy Changes - The Justice Department is moving to strip some naturalized citizens of their citizenship for certain crimes, granting US attorneys wider discretion [1] - This tactic targets naturalized US citizens, who represent nearly 25 million immigrants according to 2023 figures [2] - Denaturalization has historically been rare, averaging around 11 people per year [4] - A memo titled "civil division priorities for the justice department" suggests a potential shift towards prioritizing denaturalization cases [4] Concerns & Risks - Vague language and lack of clear standards in the memo raise concerns about potential abuse and political targeting [5][6] - There's a risk that the administration might broaden the application of denaturalization beyond war crimes and terrorism to target those who don't comply with its policies [9][10] - The concern is that old statutes could be used in new ways for political purposes [9] Legal Framework - Legal mechanisms exist to strip citizenship from those who lied or concealed information during the naturalization process [8] - Historically, denaturalization has been used with restraint and reserved for the most serious cases [9]