The signing of the “Big Beautiful Bill” into law on July 4, 2025, has ushered in a stringent immigration and denaturalization regime, and Charlize Theron, a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2007, has emerged as a primary target due to her outspoken behavior and high-profile Hollywood status. Theron’s recent remarks at her Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project Block Party on June 28, 2025, where she fiercely criticized U.S. immigration policies for “destroying the lives of families, not criminals,” have drawn intense scrutiny from the Trump administration’s Department of Justice, which is prioritizing denaturalization cases. Her comments, coupled with her past deportation at age 19 for overstaying a work visa while producing a documentary deemed “unpatriotic,” have been cited as evidence of a pattern of behavior that some officials argue undermines national interests. The bill’s provisions, which expand grounds for revoking citizenship to include actions perceived as disloyal, have placed Theron’s vocal activism—particularly her critiques of foreign aid cuts and support for marginalized groups—under a harsh spotlight.

Theron’s Hollywood persona, marked by bold roles and unapologetic public statements, has further fueled the case against her, with critics labeling her actions as “outlandish” and divisive. Her participation in events like the 2023 “Drag Isn’t Dangerous” telethon, where she vowed to “f— anybody up” threatening drag performers, and her recent “Call Her Daddy” podcast revelation about confronting a director who made a sexual pass at her, have been framed by detractors as inflammatory and unbecoming of a naturalized citizen. Social media, including posts on X, amplify this sentiment, with figures like @NileGardiner calling her “utterly ridiculous” and out of touch. The administration’s focus on high-profile figures to set a precedent for the new law has made Theron a symbolic target, with her celebrity amplifying the narrative that her behavior—ranging from quips about Jeff Bezos’ wedding to lobbying elected officials—crosses a line into disloyalty. This selective targeting underscores the bill’s broader aim to reshape the cultural and political landscape by silencing dissent from influential voices.

The implications for Theron are severe, as the denaturalization process, though rare, is gaining traction under the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which empowers the Justice Department to pursue cases against naturalized citizens deemed to have misrepresented their allegiance. Theron’s South African roots and her vocal advocacy for global issues, including her criticism of U.S. foreign aid cuts that she claims have led to deaths in her home country, are being scrutinized as potential grounds for revocation. While her supporters argue that her activism reflects a commitment to justice, the administration’s aggressive stance—evidenced by the recent denaturalization of Elliott Duke for prior crimes—suggests Theron could face legal battles that threaten her citizenship and residency. As the face of Hollywood’s resistance, Theron’s case is poised to test the limits of the new law, raising questions about free speech and the cost of celebrity dissent in an era of heightened nationalist policy. Whether her star power can withstand this political storm remains uncertain, but her targeting signals a chilling message to others in the public eye.