The United States Department of Justice has begun what it describes as the largest coordinated denaturalisation campaign in its history, seeking to strip 25 naturalised citizens from 17 countries, including three Nigerians, of their American citizenship over allegations of fraud and other unlawful acts.
The civil lawsuits, filed in various US district courts between July 20 and August 3, 2026, accuse the affected individuals of obtaining citizenship through identity fraud, concealment of key facts, sham marriages and other offences. Some of the cases also involve allegations of violent crimes, child sexual abuse and financial offences.
According to a statement published on the Justice Department’s website, the latest action is part of the administration of President Donald Trump’s intensified efforts to tackle immigration fraud and safeguard the integrity of the country’s naturalisation system.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said American citizenship remains a privilege that must be earned legally, noting that those targeted allegedly hid serious criminal records, child sexual offences, fraudulent identities and other disqualifying information during their naturalisation process.
He stated, “Today’s filings represent the largest coordinated denaturalization effort in Department history, but they are only the beginning. The Justice Department will continue to use every tool available to protect the integrity of the naturalization process and the safety of the American people.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate also described the initiative as unprecedented, saying the affected individuals committed offences that were incompatible with retaining US citizenship.
Brett said, “Today marks the largest denaturalization surge in recorded history.
Every one of these individuals committed crimes incompatible with U.S. citizenship. We are moving at record speed to denaturalize those who sought to deceive the federal government and abuse the naturalization process.”
The Justice Department disclosed that it has filed 123 civil denaturalisation complaints since January 20, 2025, the highest number ever recorded.
Under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, citizenship acquired through fraud, concealment of material facts or deliberate misrepresentation may be revoked.
Among those named are three Nigerians.
Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan, 56
US authorities alleged that Obasohan secured permanent residency and later citizenship by concealing a previous identity and an existing deportation order issued against him under another name.
The Justice Department said, “On July 21, the United States filed a case in the District of Massachusetts seeking the denaturalization of Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan because he obtained his citizenship under a fake identify, after he was already subject to an order of deportation under his true identify. Before Mr. Obasohan, a native of Nigeria, became a permanent resident and later naturalized as a U.S. citizen under the name Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan, he was previously ordered to be deported from the United States under the name Tinosa Joe Aigbedion.
“At no point during his naturalization proceedings did Mr. Obasohan disclose that he previously used the name Tinosa Joe Aigbedion or that he had a current order of deportation pending against him.
The United States has filed a five-count complaint against Mr. Obasohan seeking his denaturalization on the grounds that he was statutorily ineligible to naturalize, never lawfully obtained his permanent residence, and made numerous material misstatements to immigration officials. (District of Massachusetts).”
Yetunde Folake Olaniyi, 56
Also identified as Folake Rosemary Thomas, Olaniyi is accused of hiding her real identity and allegedly entering a sham marriage with a US citizen despite being legally married to another Nigerian. Authorities said she later secured a green card and citizenship using false information.
The Justice Department stated, “On July 31, the Department of Justice filed a case in the District of Maryland seeking the denaturalisation of Yetunde Folake Olaniyi, also known as Folake Rosemary Thomas, a native of Nigeria.
Olaniyi was ordered removed from the United States and rather than report for her scheduled removal flight, she adopted the identity of Folake Rosemary Thomas and entered into a sham marriage with a U.S. citizen, notwithstanding that she was already married to another Nigerian citizen.
Through this sham marriage and by concealing her true identity, Olaniyi was granted a green card through her spouse.
“Three years later, Olaniyi naturalized as Folake Rosemary Thomas. In 2014, Olaniyi (as Thomas) was convicted in federal court for passport fraud after fingerprint checks revealed her true identity to be Olaniyi.
The seven-count civil Complaint alleges Olaniyi was ineligible for a spousal green card and naturalization through her spouse because her marriage to the U.S. citizen was both a sham and legally invalid, that Olaniyi obtained her naturalisation through a litany of willful misrepresentations of material facts, and that Olaniyi lacked the requisite good moral character required for naturalization. (District of Maryland).”
Vivian Chike Obichere, 72.
The department also accused Obichere of withholding crucial information during her naturalisation process, including her use of another person’s identity to obtain a US passport.
The statement read, “Vivian Chike Obichere (Nigeria/Age 72): On July 30, the Department of Justice filed a denaturalization action in the Northern District of California seeking the denaturalization of Vivian Chike Obichere. Ms. Obichere is a native of Nigeria who naturalized as a United States citizen in 2013, and represented throughout her naturalisation proceedings that she had never committed crimes for which she was not arrested, had used only one alias while in the United States, had not taken trips outside of the United States during the relevant period, and had never given misleading information to any United States official.
“However, she later pled guilty to False Application and Use of a Passport, and admitted the falsity of all of those attestations. Specifically, Ms. Obichere admitted that she had concealed, during her naturalization proceedings, that she had previously applied for and used a passport with the name and identifying information of another person, who was a United States citizen.
“Accordingly, the Department of Justice is pursuing revocation of Ms.
Obichere’s naturalization on three counts related to her statutory ineligibility for denaturalization as a person barred from establishing good moral character, and one count of illegal procurement of naturalization by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation. (Northern District of California).”
The three Nigerians are among 25 naturalised citizens from 17 countries currently facing civil denaturalisation proceedings initiated by the US Department of Justice.
