USCIS Memo on Settlement Process for Historical Fingerprint Enrollment for Denaturalization Cases
USCIS released a memo in response to a FOIA request outlining the settlement process for Historical Fingerprint Enrollment cases as cases are prepared for denaturalization.
This memo was released in response to a FOIA request submitted to DHS by Matthew Hoppock, requesting “any memoranda authored or signed by L. Francis Cissna mentioning the words denaturalization or denaturalize between January 1, 2017 and the date this request is processed [June 5, 2020].
The memo notes that USCIS manually reviewed approximately 2,000 naturalization cases, which were identified after the fingerprints were uploaded in IDENT, where the individual who naturalized had previously been ordered removed under a different identity. Approximately 1,600 of those cases involved individuals who concealed information and obtained naturalization unlawfully. The denaturalization office in Los Angeles, with the Office of the Chief Counsel, presented the cases to DOJ for civil denaturalization.
Related Resources
- USCIS Response to FOIA Request from Matthew Hoppock – June 5, 2020
- Featured Issue: Denaturalization Efforts by USCIS
- Washington Post: Scanning immigrants’ old fingerprints, U.S. threatens to strip thousands of citizenship – June 13, 2018