President Trump is taking official steps to examine the criteria for stripping citizenship from certain Americans through a process known as denaturalization. The issue has been discussed publicly by Trump for months, but the administration is now reportedly reviewing how such a policy could be implemented.

The president has identified specific communities he believes should be examined. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he would be looking at the Somali community, claiming that “many of the people that came in from Somalia, they hate our country,” while also indicating that additional groups could be included.

According to UNILAD, Trump has stated that citizenship could be revoked if individuals are found to “deserve” it. He has not released details on how determinations would be made, but he has made clear that the effort would not be limited to a single population.

The administration appears poised to test denaturalization limits

Trump has repeatedly voiced support for denaturalization in recent months. In early December, he said he was “absolutely” prepared to move forward, arguing that some naturalized citizens were criminals who gained status through government failures under the Biden administration. His broader comments about presidential authority and what he believes constrains his power have also raised alarms.

Trump threatens to denaturalize U.S. citizens if they "deserve" ithttps://t.co/hg27JfHQC2

— TIME (@TIME) January 9, 2026

While acknowledging the legal complexity of such actions, Trump said he was unsure whether he had the authority to carry them out. He added that if he did have that power, he would pursue denaturalization “absolutely,” and previously said he would do so in a “heartbeat.”

Naturalization is a voluntary legal process through which immigrants become United States citizens. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate basic English proficiency, and show good moral character, with the expectation that citizenship is permanent once granted.

Denaturalization is currently rare and can only occur through a judicial process. It generally involves civil proceedings or criminal convictions tied directly to fraud during the naturalization process. Similar fears about overreach have surfaced in foreign policy debates as well, including bipartisan resistance to Trump-era actions abroad, such as the backlash discussed here regarding Venezuela and accusations of “old-fashioned imperialism” by Bernie Sanders.

Between 1990 and 2017, an average of 11 denaturalization cases were opened per year. Any effort to broaden the criteria would represent a significant expansion of how often citizenship could be challenged.

Civil rights organizations have criticized the administration’s stance. The American Civil Liberties Union described the push to strip citizenship as “systemic and chilling,” warning that it could undermine confidence in the naturalization system.

The ACLU has also stated that citizens may fear that past application errors could be used against them years later. The organization warned that this uncertainty could discourage lawful permanent residents from pursuing citizenship or fully participating in civic life.

A shooting involving federal agents in Portland, Oregon, left two people injured, immediately following a similar deadly incident in Minneapolis and prompting local officials to demand a halt to all federal immigration operations, as per ABC News. The chaotic incident involved agents from Customs and Border Protection who were reportedly conducting a targeted stop in the city.

Federal officials were quick to release their version of events. The Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, confirmed the agents were part of an operation dubbed “Operation Oregon.” They were targeting a vehicle carrying two individuals allegedly affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, specifically naming the passenger as the primary target. According to the DHS statement, when agents identified themselves, the driver “weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents.”

This is a seriously concerning escalation. The driver, who was not the initial target of the operation, was driving a red Toyota when they allegedly tried to flee the scene. After the shooting occurred, the two people who were shot drove themselves about three miles from the initial location, near Southeast Main Street, to an apartment complex before calling for help.

This Portland shooting comes just after an ICE officer allegedly shot and killed a woman in her car in Minneapolis the previous day

Just like how Minneapolis mayor slammed the official narrative of the fatal shooting, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson did not mince words when addressing the situation, making it crystal clear that local government is highly skeptical of the federal narrative. “We know what the federal government says happened here,” Mayor Wilson told reporters. “There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time is long past.”

He immediately called for a pause on all immigration enforcement operations in the city, stating, “We are calling on ICE to halt all operations in Portland until a full and independent investigation can take place. Our community deserves answers.”

JUST IN — Gov. Tim Walz vows accountability after the shooting.

“Our administration is going to stop at nothing to seek accountability and justice. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the investigation.”

This isn’t getting buried. The state is moving. pic.twitter.com/jHK2G1taNa

— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 7, 2026

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek echoed that demand for immediate federal cooperation and transparency. She emphasized that the state’s priority is a complete investigation, not more detentions. “My message to the federal government is this: We demand transparency,” Governor Kotek said. “We demand your cooperation with Portland Police and the Multnomah County DA, because we need to investigate this incident efficiently and effectively so we can rebuild trust with our nation’s government.”

Adding to the official pushback, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced that his office was opening an investigation. The Oregon Department of Justice investigation will specifically look at whether any federal officers acted outside the scope of their lawful authority during the encounter, including reviewing video evidence and witness interviews.

Mayor Wilson called the incident “deeply troubling” and urged residents to respond with calm, not violence. “Portland does not respond to violence with violence,” he reminded the community. “We respond with clarity, unity, and a commitment to justice. We must stand together to protect Portland.”

President Donald Trump attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, calling her “garbage” and saying Somalis should “go back to where they came from.” Unsurprisingly, his comments have drawn angry responses from Minnesota leaders.

According to NBC News, Trump spent much of his speech criticizing Somalia and Omar, who was born there and has been in Congress since 2019. “I don’t want them in our country. I’ll be honest with you, OK,” Trump said. “Somebody will say, ‘Oh, that’s not politically correct.’ I don’t care. I don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason,” 

Trump went further with his attacks, saying “her friends are garbage” too. He suggested that people who come to America and complain should leave. “When they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but complain, we don’t want them in our country,” he said. “Let them go back to where they came from and fix it.”

Trump’s racist comments reveal his deep hatred for immigrant communities

Omar’s family escaped the civil war in Somalia and lived in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the U.S., where she became a citizen. She responded to Trump on X, writing: “His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.” Omar is currently running to keep her seat in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in next week’s primary election.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter called Trump’s words racist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic. He said when the president “responds with division and racism, it’s un-American and against everything we stand for.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said his city is proud to have the largest Somali population in the country.

TRUMP: "Our country's at a tipping point. We could go bad.. We're going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country."

"Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage. These aren't people that work. These aren't people that say, 'let's go,… pic.twitter.com/fmH2t3Q2gp

— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 2, 2025

Trump made these comments at the end of a Cabinet meeting when a reporter asked if Minnesota Governor Tim Walz should resign over Covid relief fraud. 59 people, mostly of East African descent, were convicted in fraud schemes that took over $1 billion in taxpayer money. While some believe Trump could achieve historic peace deals, his rhetoric against immigrants continues to draw criticism.

His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs. https://t.co/pxOpAChHse

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) December 2, 2025

Trump used this fraud case to attack the entire Somali community, claiming “Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars, billions, every year, billions of dollars, and they contribute nothing.”

Governor Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, defended the community on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. He said the fraudsters are going to jail, and “to demonize an entire community on the actions of a few, it’s lazy.”

Walz said Trump is “demonizing an entire group of people who came here, fleeing civil war, and created a vibrant community that makes Minnesota and this country better.” Trump called Walz “a grossly incompetent man.” Trump also said his position applies to other countries, stating “I don’t want them in our country” and their country “stinks.” This aligns with his plan to ban immigration from third-world nations, which could affect America’s allies.

A story of amazing resilience has emerged out of Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood: it’s of one couple, Ofelia Herrera and Rafael Hernandez, who refused to alter their daily routines even when Border Patrol agents swarmed the area on a recent Saturday morning.

As reported by AP News, Herrera, 47, and Hernandez, 44, are in the United States illegally, but they opened their food stand just blocks away from where the agents were operating. They serve delicious Mexican-style corn on the cob and refreshing aguas frescas flavored with cucumber, pineapple, and strawberry. Sirens were blaring through the chaotic day as Chicago police confronted demonstrators who were responding to a Border Patrol call for help.

The couple says working isn’t just about paying the bills; it’s about avoiding depression.. Herrera explained her faith-based approach, saying, “The only thing you can do is have faith in God and not be afraid.” She strongly believes that fear leads to other problems. “Fear gives way to depression and other things,” she noted in an interview. Hernandez agreed, noting, “We know people who have fallen into depression. They don’t leave the house. It’s very sad.”

Illegal immigrants are most often not causing trouble, but contributing to the community

This enforcement blitz has been ongoing since early September, and it’s had a serious impact on the community. Many people without legal status have stayed home for over two months. You’ve even got U.S. citizens of Latino heritage who are too afraid to go outside. Sidewalk traffic on the bustling 26th Street is still lively, but the fear has sparked a grassroots effort to buy out street vendors early just so they can avoid public exposure.

For Herrera and Hernandez, the community fear translates directly to their bottom line. Sales have plummeted about 75% since the Trump administration began “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago. Like almost everyone they know, their phones constantly alert them to warnings about where immigration officers are making arrests and where they should stay away.

A Chicago street vendor couple has a defiant response to immigration arrests: Stick to the routinehttps://t.co/Xlnjpbabip

— Antar (@MarkGolden16) November 21, 2025

Despite the administration vowing they are pursuing “the worst of the worst,” Hernandez pointed out that it appears authorities are arresting “everyone.” The data support this: more than 70% of people in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody during the 12-month period through September were not convicted of a crime in the U.S.

The couple’s stand, which is adorned with American flags, is right in the heart of Little Village. They admit they have thought about trying to obtain legal status, but they feel they don’t have a strong case and certainly couldn’t afford an attorney. They have obtained Illinois driver’s licenses and consistently paid taxes. Hernandez summed up their commitment perfectly: “Chicago is marvelous. There are many opportunities for those of us who are immigrants.”

While they want to stay in Chicago, they are prepared to return to Mexico if they are arrested, and they would bring their American citizen children with them. Herrera speaks for many when she says, “We don’t want to go to Mexico but, if we have to, we will. What else is there to do?” Their resilience is truly inspiring.