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Fact check: Are naturalized citizens being detained and for how long?

Checked on August 19, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, there is limited direct evidence of naturalized citizens being systematically detained, and no specific information about detention durations. The sources primarily focus on denaturalization efforts rather than detention practices.

The analyses reveal several key developments:

  • The Trump Administration expanded the 'good moral character' test for citizenship applicants, which could potentially lead to detention or denaturalization of naturalized citizens [1]
  • The Department of Justice announced plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship from naturalized citizens who have committed certain crimes [2] [3]
  • At least one person, Elliott Duke, has already been denaturalized and is now effectively stateless [3] [2]

The analyses include isolated cases rather than systematic detention patterns:

  • Sabrina Medina was detained by ICE agents but was told she would be released if she turned in her husband, though the context and her citizenship status remain unclear [4]
  • Carlos Fabian Velez, a naturalized citizen, pleaded guilty to unlawful procurement of citizenship and was sentenced to 210 months in prison, but this appears to be a criminal prosecution rather than immigration detention [5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context that emerge from the analyses:

  • The focus has shifted from detention to denaturalization - the Trump administration's primary strategy appears to be stripping citizenship rather than detaining naturalized citizens [2] [3]
  • Critics argue the new denaturalization priorities are "broad and vague," potentially allowing the administration to target a wide range of naturalized citizens [3]
  • Constitutional concerns have been raised about the denaturalization effort and its potential impact on families of naturalized citizens [2]
  • Historical precedent exists - the analyses reference the case of U.S. v. Fedorenko, involving a former Nazi guard who was denaturalized and eventually executed for war crimes [3]

Alternative viewpoints that benefit different parties:

  • Immigration enforcement agencies would benefit from expanded denaturalization powers as it provides a tool to remove citizenship from individuals they deem undesirable
  • Civil rights organizations would benefit from highlighting potential constitutional violations and the broad scope of these policies
  • Political opponents of the Trump administration would benefit from framing this as government overreach targeting immigrant communities

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that naturalized citizens are being detained in significant numbers, which is not supported by the available evidence. The analyses suggest that:

  • Denaturalization, not detention, appears to be the primary enforcement mechanism being pursued by the Trump administration [2] [3]
  • The question may be conflating different enforcement actions - criminal prosecution, immigration detention, and denaturalization proceedings are distinct legal processes
  • No systematic data on detention durations for naturalized citizens specifically is provided in any of the analyses

The framing of the question may inadvertently spread concern about detention practices that are not clearly documented in the available sources, potentially creating alarm about policies that may not be the primary focus of current enforcement efforts.

Want to dive deeper?
What are the grounds for detaining naturalized citizens in the US?
How long can naturalized citizens be detained by ICE before seeing a judge?
What rights do naturalized citizens have during detention, compared to permanent residents?
Can naturalized citizens be deported, and under what circumstances?
What is the process for a naturalized citizen to appeal a detention decision?