The US Justice Department has filed cases to strip 40 naturalized Americans of their citizenship, the largest such filing in a single period under President Donald Trump. The department announced the move on Monday.

The civil complaints were filed between August 21 and October 2 in 19 federal district courts, from California and Texas to New York and Florida. The targets are accused of serious offenses, including acting as a foreign agent, voluntary manslaughter and aggravated sodomy.

Attorney General Todd Blanche called it the largest denaturalization effort in modern history. He said the defendants concealed critical facts from the government when they sought citizenship. Two of the 40 are accused of spying for China.

US law allows courts to revoke citizenship if it was obtained illegally or through concealment of material facts. Officials stressed the cases are allegations only and no court has ruled on them.

The 40 come from countries including Mexico, Pakistan, China and Sierra Leone. The department said it had filed 123 denaturalization complaints since Trump took office in January 2025. Critics warn the campaign could spread fear among naturalized citizens.