The White House has confirmed that the Biden administration’s successor government is examining whether to pursue denaturalisation proceedings against some Somali-American citizens amid a widening fraud investigation centred on social assistance programmes in Minnesota.

Federal officials say the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State are auditing immigration and naturalisation records to determine whether individuals obtained U.S. citizenship through misrepresentation or fraud, which under U.S. law can serve as grounds for revoking naturalised status.

This review follows a series of high-profile fraud allegations involving federal aid programmes, including child care and social services, that prosecutors contend may involve significant misuse of taxpayer funding.

The administration has framed the initiative as part of broader efforts to safeguard the integrity of federal programmes and enforce existing law.

Spokespersons have described denaturalisation as one of the legal tools available to address cases where citizenship may have been procured on a fraudulent basis, although experts note that such proceedings are rare and typically require substantial evidence of deception at the time of naturalisation.

The review is being carried out alongside intensified fraud investigations by federal agencies in Minnesota, where dozens of defendants, many of whom are of Somali descent, have been charged in connection with alleged schemes relating to social assistance funds.

Critics of the policy argue that using denaturalisation in this context could risk undermining due process and fuel perceptions of targeted enforcement against immigrant communities.

Supporters emphasise the administration’s emphasis on accountability and legal scrutiny, saying that ensuring public trust in naturalisation and benefits programmes is an important element of effective governance.

The legal and administrative process for denaturalisation can be lengthy and complex, and federal authorities have indicated that any actions would proceed only after careful review and with adherence to statutory standards for proving fraud in the naturalisation process.