You’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the rumors swirling around social media. It sounds like a glitch in the matrix—the idea that someone with a blue passport, born and raised in the States, could actually be kicked out. Honestly, it’s a terrifying thought. But when people ask how many US citizens have been deported this year, the answer is a lot messier than a single number on a government spreadsheet.
Legally speaking, the U.S. government cannot deport its own citizens. It’s a hard rule. If you are a citizen, you have an absolute right to be here. Full stop. However, "cannot" and "does not" aren't always the same thing in the real world. Mistakes happen. Bureaucracy is a beast.
In 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported record-breaking enforcement, with over 605,000 formal removals and nearly 2 million "self-deportations." Within that massive wave of enforcement, the line between "undocumented" and "citizen" sometimes gets blurred by paperwork errors, lost records, or aggressive field operations.
The Reality of Wrongful Deportations in 2026
So, what’s the actual count for this year? As of early 2026, there is no official "citizen deportation" category in ICE statistics. Why? Because the government doesn't admit to deporting citizens as a policy. When it happens, it's labeled as an administrative error or a "wrongful removal."
Most experts, including those at the American Immigration Council, point out that while the total number of people in detention has hit a record high of over 73,000 this month, the vast majority are non-citizens. But here is the kicker: the surge in "at-large" arrests—up by over 2,000% recently—means agents are picking up people in transit, at work, or at home.
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When you increase the speed and volume of removals, the margin for error spikes. We’ve seen cases where naturalized citizens—people who earned their citizenship years ago—get caught in the dragnet because their data wasn't updated in a specific federal database. It's rare, but for the person sitting in a detention center, it's 100% of their reality.
Why Naturalized Citizens are Feeling the Heat
Lately, the conversation has shifted. It’s not just about accidental removals anymore. The Department of Justice recently announced a push to "prioritize and maximally pursue" denaturalization.
This is different from a standard deportation. Denaturalization is a legal process to strip someone of their citizenship. Once that’s gone, they become a non-citizen and can be deported.
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- Fraud or Misrepresentation: If the government finds you lied on your original application 20 years ago.
- Criminal Convictions: Certain serious crimes can trigger a review of your status.
- National Security: This is a broad bucket often used for high-profile cases.
Honestly, it's a scary time for naturalized folks. The burden of proof in these civil cases is lower than in criminal court, and you don’t even get a court-appointed lawyer. You’re basically on your own to prove you belong here.
The "Wrongful Removal" Trap
Let's talk about how a U.S. citizen actually ends up on a plane to another country. It usually starts with a "detainer."
Imagine a guy named Mike. Mike was born in Puerto Rico (making him a U.S. citizen) but is living in a state where local police are on high alert. He gets pulled over for a broken taillight. There’s a name mix-up in the system, and ICE flags him. If Mike doesn't have his birth certificate or passport on him, he might spend days or weeks in a tent camp or a local jail trying to prove he is who he says he is.
According to researchers at Northwestern University, thousands of U.S. citizens have been detained or deported over the last couple of decades. It's a systemic hiccup that hasn't been fixed, and with the 2026 "Operation Tidal Wave" and other mass-enforcement spikes, the risk of these errors has never been higher.
Who Is Most at Risk?
- Children of immigrants: Especially those born abroad to U.S. citizen parents who haven't filed all the "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" paperwork.
- People with mental health issues: If someone can't clearly communicate their status or history to agents, they are much more likely to be processed as a non-citizen.
- Individuals with common names: Data systems often conflate records of citizens with non-citizens who share the same name and birth year.
Denaturalization vs. Deportation
It’s important to distinguish between these two. Deportation is the physical removal. Denaturalization is the legal "un-making" of a citizen.
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In 2025, the focus on denaturalization grew significantly. The government is looking at roughly ten broad categories of people to target for citizenship revocation. This isn't just "wrongful deportation"—this is a deliberate legal strategy. If you're a naturalized citizen, you've probably felt a bit of a chill in the air.
Most of these cases involve people who had prior deportation orders under a different name or who allegedly hid a criminal past. But the net is widening. Even small inconsistencies on old forms are being scrutinized.
What You Should Actually Do Now
If you are a U.S. citizen or a Green Card holder, you need a "paper shield." The days of just assuming your status is "obvious" are kinda over for now.
- Keep digital copies: Scan your passport, naturalization certificate, or birth certificate. Keep them on a secure cloud drive and a physical copy with a trusted relative.
- Don't sign anything: If you are detained, do not sign a "Stipulated Order of Removal" or any document that says you waive your right to a hearing. Some people sign these just to get out of a cell, not realizing they are agreeing to be deported.
- Lawyer up early: If you’re a naturalized citizen and get a "Notice of Intent to Revoke Naturalization," don't ignore it. These cases move fast.
- Update your records: If you’ve changed your name or moved recently, make sure your info with the Social Security Administration and DHS is consistent.
The number of how many US citizens have been deported this year might stay officially near zero, but the number of people fighting to keep their citizenship is definitely on the rise.
Protect your status by ensuring your documentation is ironclad. If you’re traveling, even domestically near the border, carrying a high-quality photocopy of your proof of citizenship is a smart move in this environment. If you or a loved one is questioned by ICE, clearly state: "I am a U.S. citizen and I do not consent to a search or further questioning without an attorney."