Following several recent terrorist attacks in the United States, Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) says he is preparing legislation that would allow the government to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Americans convicted of terrorism-related crimes.
Moore indicated that the proposal would focus specifically on individuals who obtained U.S. citizenship through naturalization and were later convicted of terrorism offenses, including plotting attacks against Americans.
The idea comes after a series of violent incidents allegedly carried out by naturalized citizens.
One case involved Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized citizen originally from Lebanon, who authorities say rammed a vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Ghazali had legally immigrated to the United States in 2011 on a green card through marriage to an American citizen. He later applied for naturalized citizenship in 2015 and was granted citizenship in 2016 by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Another incident cited in discussions around the proposal involved Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized citizen from Senegal. Authorities say Diagne carried out a terrorist attack in Austin, Texas on March 1 that left three Americans dead and more than a dozen injured. At the time of the attack, investigators said he was wearing a shirt reading “Property of Allah” and had a Quran in his vehicle. Diagne had been granted U.S. citizenship in 2016 after applying more than a decade earlier.
Moore also pointed to the case of Alhaji Jalloh, who pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in October 2017 and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence. Jalloh was released from prison in December 2024 and was still on supervised release at the time of another reported attack at Old Dominion.
In addition, authorities have accused two teenagers, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, of attempting to detonate bombs targeting critics of Islam near Gracie Mansion in New York City. According to reports, Balat’s parents are naturalized citizens from Turkey, while Kayumi’s family immigrated from Afghanistan and became naturalized sometime between 2004 and 2009.
Moore says these cases highlight what he views as a gap in the law. His planned legislation would seek to allow the federal government to revoke citizenship from individuals who obtained it through naturalization and were later convicted of terrorism offenses.
Supporters argue that naturalized citizenship should not shield individuals who turn against the country through acts of terrorism. Critics, however, say such proposals raise legal and constitutional questions about citizenship rights and due process.
The congressman has indicated that he will introduce formal legislation soon, setting up what could become another major debate in Washington over immigration policy, national security, and the limits of citizenship.
For supporters of the proposal, though, the argument is straightforward: protecting American lives should always come first, and those who betray the country through acts of terror should not expect to keep the privileges that come with U.S. citizenship.
