The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday its largest denaturalization initiative to date under the Trump administration, filing lawsuits to strip 40 naturalized individuals of their U.S. citizenship. Among those targeted are two Cubans.
Between August 21 and October 2, 2026, these legal actions were initiated across various federal courts. The DOJ alleges that these individuals acquired their citizenship through illegal means or by withholding significant information and making false statements during their naturalization process.
Javier Marrero Pando, aged 60 and residing in Athens, Georgia, and Lázaro Eduardo Trujillo Vitón, aged 40, with proceedings in the District of Columbia, are the two Cubans involved.
Legal Grounds for Citizenship Revocation
Marrero Pando's case is tied to a conviction for aggravated sodomy. According to the DOJ, he pleaded guilty in June 2022 to this crime against a man with special needs and was sentenced to life in prison, with all but 15 years suspended.
During his criminal proceedings, Marrero Pando admitted to forcing the victim to engage in unwanted sexual acts in May 2020. However, during his naturalization interview in October of that year, he falsely declared under oath that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested, according to the lawsuit.
The government has presented three arguments to revoke his citizenship: illegal acquisition of naturalization, lack of the required good moral character, and false statements during the process.
Fraud and Concealment Allegations
Regarding Trujillo Vitón, the DOJ claims he concealed his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud the healthcare system and submit fraudulent Medicare claims during his naturalization process. He was later convicted for these actions.
The complaint states that his misconduct began before he obtained citizenship and continued during the naturalization proceedings. The government argues that he deliberately hid these facts and provided false statements that would have affected his eligibility for U.S. citizenship.
Wider Efforts in Citizenship Revocation
Among the 40 targeted individuals is Johyce Martínez, a 52-year-old originally from Venezuela. Authorities claim she entered the United States in 2006 using a fraudulent Cuban birth record, later gained permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act, and maintained this identity upon naturalizing in 2013.
This announcement further escalates a denaturalization campaign that the Trump administration has notably intensified in 2026. NBC News reported that authorities aimed to identify between 100 and 200 potential cases monthly, significantly higher than typical levels in previous years.
These cases involving Marrero Pando and Trujillo Vitón are not isolated incidents involving Cubans. In June, the DOJ initiated actions against two other Cuban women linked to fraud cases. That same year, a federal court revoked the citizenship of Mirelys Cabrera Díaz, convicted of Medicare fraud.
"Today's announcement marks the largest denaturalization effort in modern history," stated Attorney General Todd Blanche, asserting that the DOJ will continue to pursue individuals who, according to the government, concealed information that would have prevented their naturalization.
U.S. law allows for revocation of naturalization if a court finds it was obtained illegally, through concealment of a material fact, or by willful false statements. Filing a lawsuit alone does not result in the loss of citizenship.
If courts eventually mandate denaturalization, the affected individuals would lose their U.S. citizenship and, depending on their immigration status and the circumstances under which they previously secured residency, might face additional immigration proceedings, including deportation.
The DOJ emphasized that the allegations in these lawsuits are claims, and no civil liability has yet been determined in these cases.
This situation is part of an ever-evolving immigration landscape. Stay informed about the latest laws, processes, and decisions impacting the Latino community in U.S. immigration.
Understanding U.S. Citizenship Revocation
What are the grounds for revoking U.S. citizenship?
U.S. citizenship can be revoked if it was obtained illegally, through the concealment of a material fact, or by making deliberate false statements during the naturalization process.
What happens if a person's citizenship is revoked?
If a court orders the revocation of citizenship, the individual loses their U.S. citizenship. Depending on their prior immigration status, they may face further immigration proceedings, including the possibility of deportation.