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Title 8 — Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73not60

§1453 Cancellation of Certificates Issued by Attorney General, the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner; Action Not to Affect Citizenship Status

Title 8 › Chapter 12— IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › Subchapter III— NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION › Part II— Nationality Through Naturalization › § 1453

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can cancel citizenship or immigration papers — like naturalization or citizenship certificates, declarations of intention, or other related records — if the Attorney General finds they were illegally or fraudulently obtained or created. Before canceling, the person gets a written notice at their last-known address with the reasons and at least 60 days to show why the document should not be canceled. Canceling the paper only removes the document. It does not change the person’s citizenship.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1453

Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Attorney General is authorized to cancel any certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, copy of a declaration of intention, or other certificate, document or record heretofore issued or made by the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner or hereafter made by the Attorney General if it shall appear to the Attorney General’s satisfaction that such document or record was illegally or fraudulently obtained from, or was created through illegality or by fraud practiced upon, him or the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner; but the person for or to whom such document or record has been issued or made shall be given at such person’s last-known place of address written notice of the intention to cancel such document or record with the reasons therefor and shall be given at least sixty days in which to show cause why such document or record should not be canceled. The cancellation under this section of any document purporting to show the citizenship status of the person to whom it was issued shall affect only the document and not the citizenship status of the person in whose name the document was issued.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after
June 27, 1952, see section 407 of act
June 27, 1952, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title. Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

8 U.S.C. § 1453

Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60