The United States government has initiated proceedings to revoke the citizenship of 40 individuals, including two Nigerian nationals, accused of serious offences. This move is part of the Donald Trump administration's efforts to enforce immigration laws. The US Department of Justice filed denaturalisation complaints against the individuals in multiple US district courts between August 21 and October 2, 2026.
The complaints filed represent the largest number submitted within a single period under the Trump administration. The individuals targeted are accused of offences including acting as an agent for a foreign government, voluntary manslaughter, and aggravated sodomy against a special-needs man. The Justice Department stated that the filings were made under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
One of the Nigerian defendants is 54-year-old Beatrice Chioma Nwaoha Ashamole. The Justice Department accused her of concealing previous criminal and immigration records during her naturalisation proceedings. A complaint was filed against Ashamole on September 25 in the District of Maryland, seeking to strip her of US citizenship over alleged fraud and false testimony in the naturalisation process.
The second Nigerian defendant is 58-year-old Semiu Olaiye Ijelu. Prosecutors accused him of using two different identities in applications for immigration benefits. Ijelu had previously been ordered to leave the US but allegedly failed to disclose the deportation order when he applied for permanent residency after marrying a US citizen in 2009.
The Trump administration is now seeking to have Ijelu's US citizenship revoked over the alleged concealment. The Justice Department stated that the US alleges that the court should issue an order revoking Ijelu's naturalisation because he did not lawfully adjust status, did not have the required good moral character for naturalisation, and procured his naturalisation by concealment of material facts and willful misrepresentations.
Other defendants named in the complaints include Douglas Chukwuka Eze, whose original nationality was listed as unknown, and 58-year-old Ifeolu Samuel Akingbemisilu of Sierra Leone. The Justice Department's actions demonstrate the administration's commitment to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring that individuals who have committed serious offences are held accountable.
The denaturalisation complaints filed against the 40 individuals mark a significant effort by the Trump administration to revoke the citizenship of those accused of serious crimes. The cases will likely be closely watched as they make their way through the US court system, with the Justice Department seeking to demonstrate its authority to revoke citizenship in cases of alleged fraud or misconduct.
Key points
- The US Department of Justice filed denaturalisation complaints against 40 individuals accused of serious offences, including two Nigerian nationals.
- The complaints were filed between August 21 and October 2, 2026, under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- The Trump administration is seeking to revoke the citizenship of the individuals accused of offences including acting as an agent for a foreign government, voluntary manslaughter, and aggravated sodomy.
