The answer depends on more than when you were arrested or convicted. A crime committed before naturalization does not always prevent someone from becoming a citizen. But a conviction years afterward may still put that citizenship at risk.
Committed a Crime Before Naturalization? Citizenship May Still Be Possible
Not every crime prevents someone from becoming a U.S. citizen. Some offenses create permanent legal barriers, while others may affect eligibility depending on the nature of the offense, when it occurred, and the applicant's circumstances.
For example, certain aggravated felony convictions create permanent barriers to establishing the good moral character required for naturalization. Other offenses may not permanently prevent citizenship, although USCIS may consider relevant misconduct even outside the usual statutory period.
Importantly, a person may be ineligible for naturalization because of criminal conduct even without ever having been arrested, charged, or convicted. Applicants must also truthfully disclose offenses and other relevant conduct when required.
Never Arrested Before Citizenship? Your Past May Still Catch Up With You
On October 13, 2026, USCIS publicized a major denaturalization initiative involving 40 individuals. DOJ had announced the filing of these lawsuits on October 5.
Consider three cases described in the DOJ announcement:
Colombia: A woman became a citizen in 2018 and was convicted of money-laundering conspiracy in 2020. She admitted that her criminal involvement began before naturalization. DOJ alleges that her earlier conduct and false statements made her ineligible for citizenship.
Canada: A man was convicted of securities and wire fraud after naturalization. According to DOJ, his fraudulent activities began before he applied for citizenship, and he concealed his misconduct during the naturalization process.
Nepal: A woman became a citizen in September 2008. In March 2016, she pleaded guilty to participating in an immigration-document fraud conspiracy that began in June 2007. DOJ alleges that she falsely denied committing crimes for which she had not been arrested when applying for citizenship and during her naturalization interview.
These are denaturalization lawsuits, not final judgments revoking citizenship.
The government can investigate misconduct dating back to when it actually occurred—not merely when it was discovered, reported, investigated, charged, or resulted in a conviction.
Even if criminal conduct went undetected for years, evidence discovered later may establish that an individual was ineligible for naturalization or obtained citizenship through material concealment or willful misrepresentation. If the government proves a statutory ground for denaturalization, citizenship may be revoked.
What If the Crime Was Committed Only After Naturalization?
Suppose someone lawfully became a citizen in 2020 and first committed a crime in 2025.
That person may face prosecution and serious criminal penalties. However, criminal conduct occurring entirely after lawful naturalization generally does not, by itself, provide grounds for revoking citizenship.
Certain specific statutory exceptions exist, and later conduct may also uncover earlier fraud or disqualifying facts.
Can USCIS Simply Cancel Your Citizenship?
No. USCIS cannot ordinarily revoke naturalized citizenship on its own because someone has been accused or convicted of a crime.
Under federal law, denaturalization generally requires federal court proceedings. In civil denaturalization cases, the government must establish a statutory ground for revocation through clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence. Federal law also provides for revocation following certain criminal convictions for unlawfully obtaining naturalization.
A criminal conviction is not always necessary for denaturalization, but the government must establish a legally sufficient basis for revocation.
The Bottom Line: Citizenship Does Not Erase Your Past
A crime committed before naturalization does not necessarily prevent citizenship. But a conviction entered years afterward does not necessarily protect it either.
The nature and timing of the underlying conduct matter, as does whether citizenship was lawfully obtained. Becoming a U.S. citizen does not automatically eliminate the legal consequences of earlier, undisclosed misconduct.
Anyone facing criminal charges involving conduct that began before naturalization should obtain legal advice addressing both the criminal case and the potential consequences for citizenship.