SCAM Act

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Senator Schmitt, would make it easier for the government to take away the citizenship of people who became U.S. citizens through naturalization. It targets individuals who commit certain crimes or join specific groups within 10 years of becoming citizens, arguing these actions prove they lied during their application.
• Under this plan, a person could lose their citizenship if they join or help a foreign terrorist organization within 10 years of naturalization. It also applies to those convicted of stealing $10,000 or more from government programs, like Social Security or local aid, or those who commit serious crimes like spying or aggravated felonies.
• If citizenship is revoked, it is treated as if the person was never a citizen at all. This change is retroactive, meaning the person loses all rights and benefits of being an American immediately. They would also face fast-tracked deportation from the country, regardless of how long they have lived in the United States since naturalizing.
• The bill claims that committing these crimes within 10 years is proof that the person did not actually have the 'good moral character' required to become a citizen in the first place. If a court decides the 10-year rule is too long, the bill includes a backup plan to apply these rules to anyone who commits these acts within 5 years.

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