Nicaragua Strips Citizenship from Hundreds of Dissidents
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Nicaragua Strips Citizenship from Hundreds of Dissidents
- In February 2023, Nicaragua's government stripped 222 political prisoners of their citizenship and deported them to the United States.
- Days later, on February 16, 2023, an additional 94 political dissidents, including prominent writers Sergio Ramírez and Gioconda Belli, also had their citizenship revoked.
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In February 2023, the Nicaraguan government took the unprecedented step of stripping hundreds of political dissidents and former political prisoners of their citizenship. On February 9, 2023, 222 political prisoners were released and immediately deported to the United States, with their Nicaraguan nationality simultaneously revoked. This action followed a reform of Article 21 of Nicaragua’s Political Constitution, passed by the National Assembly on the same day, to allow for the loss of citizenship for those deemed “traitors to the homeland.”
Days later, on February 16, 2023, an additional 94 political dissidents, many of whom were already living in exile, also had their citizenship revoked and properties confiscated. Among this group were internationally recognized writers Sergio Ramírez and Gioconda Belli, as well as human rights activist Vilma Núñez and journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro. Appeals Court Justice Ernesto Rodríguez Mejía declared these individuals “traitors” and stated they had lost their Nicaraguan citizenship.
Human rights organizations, legal experts, and international bodies, including the United States, have condemned these actions, asserting that they violate international law and the universal right to a nationality. Critics argue that these measures are part of a broader, systematic policy by the government of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo to suppress dissent and consolidate power, which has intensified since widespread anti-government protests in 2018. The government has been accused of using state institutions to intimidate and punish political opposition, leading to arbitrary detentions, forced exiles, and the curtailment of fundamental freedoms. As of April 2026, over 450 Nicaraguan nationals have been denationalized, with many remaining stateless.