Managua: Throughout history, denationalization has been used by states to exclude or expel individuals deemed undesirable, including political dissidents and members of minority groups. In recent years, this tactic has resurfaced in Nicaragua as a tool to suppress opposition to the government of Daniel Ortega. According to Global Voices, the Nicaraguan government, on February 9, 2023, released 222 political prisoners and deported them to the United States. On the same day, the National Assembly, controlled by the ruling party, approved a constitutional reform that authorized the revocation of the nationality of individuals declared traitors to the homeland. This was enacted through Law No. 1145 and incorporated into the Law on the Partial Reform of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua. A week later, the nationality of an additional 94 Nicaraguans was revoked. Daniel Ortega, in a speech commemorating the 90th death anniversary of revolutionary Augusto Nicolás Calderón Sandino on February 2 1, 2024, declared that those who betray their homeland cease to belong to that country and are therefore considered stateless. Ortega's remarks were directed at former presidents Adolfo Díaz and Emiliano Chamorro, alongside the more than 300 individuals deprived of their citizenship, drawing parallels between them and past conservative leaders who favored U.S. occupation. The current Nicaraguan government and its affiliated media propagate the narrative that dissent is treason, warranting the removal of nationality. This perspective has found resonance beyond Nicaragua. In 2025, Cambodia revised its constitution to allow the revocation of citizenship for those deemed threats to national security, with Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasizing loyalty to Cambodian interests. Similarly, Russia passed a law in 2026 that targets dissidents abroad with measures akin to citizenship revocation. Daniel Ortega, a former guerrilla fighter who overthrew the Somoza dynasty in 1979, has led Nicaragua as president since 2007, after reclaiming power in 2006. His administration is seen as authoritarian by numerous international bodies, including Amnesty International, which highlights the suppression of dissent and the erosion of civil liberties in Nicaragua. The political crisis in Nicaragua has been intensifying since 2018 when social protests erupted in response to proposed Social Security reforms, revealing deep-seated dissatisfaction with the concentration of power in the executive branch. Ortega's government is accused of targeting opposition members, journalists, human rights defenders, and religious leaders, stripping over 300 individuals of their nationality. In response, countries like Mexico, Spain, Chile, and Argentina have offered to naturalize those affected. On July 19, 2026, Ortega announced the suspension of future elections in Nicaragua, further consolidating his grip on power. The presidential election, originally scheduled for the end of 2026, was postponed to 2027 through constitutional reforms.