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Congress·In Committee·about 1 month ago

Congress Proposes Stripping Citizenship from Naturalized Citizens Convicted of Fraud or Terrorism

Also known as: SCAM Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • Congress is considering a bill that would make it easier for the government to take away the citizenship of people who were not born in the U.S. but became citizens later. This process, known as denaturalization, would apply if a person commits certain serious crimes or acts of fraud shortly after becoming a citizen.
  • Under the proposal, the government could take away citizenship if a person joins a terrorist group, works as a spy, or commits a serious crime within 10 years of becoming a citizen. The government would view these actions as proof that the person was not actually of 'good moral character' when they first applied for citizenship.
  • The bill also targets people who cheat government programs, like Social Security or local welfare, out of $10,000 or more. If this fraud happens within 10 years of the person becoming a citizen, the government could cancel their citizenship and act as if they were never a citizen at all.
  • If a person loses their citizenship under these rules, they would face fast-tracked deportation to be removed from the country. This would apply regardless of how long they have lived in the U.S. or what their legal status was before they became a citizen.
ImmigrationCriminal JusticeCivil Rights

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 20, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

3 articles
Washington Times·about 1 month ago

Schmitt proposes bill to make it easier to revoke citizenship of fraudsters after Minnesota scandal

Sen. Eric Schmitt introduced the SCAM Act to expand legal grounds for revoking citizenship, targeting those who commit substantial welfare fraud or join terrorist groups within 10 years of naturalization. Schmitt argued the bill protects the integrity of American citizenship.

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The Financial Express·about 1 month ago

What is SCAM act? Bill proposes '10-year rule' to revoke US citizenship

The proposed SCAM Act would establish a 10-year window during which naturalized citizens could lose their status if they commit serious crimes. Supporters believe it will survive legal challenges by treating post-naturalization crimes as proof of misrepresentation during the application process.

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Medill on the Hill·25 days ago

Republican senators vow to crack down on Minnesota fraud, press for SCAM Act

During a Senate Judiciary hearing, GOP lawmakers pushed for the SCAM Act to address welfare fraud scandals, while Democrats criticized the measure as a pretext for a broader immigration crackdown. The hearing highlighted the bill's focus on revoking status for substantial government program fraud.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

SCAM Act

Bill NumberHR 7156
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(44)
R: 44

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.