US Senator Eric Schmitt Introduces SCAM Act to Expand Citizenship Revocation Powers
Senator Eric Schmitt has introduced the SCAM Act to expand denaturalization authority for naturalized citizens involved in welfare fraud, terrorism, or serious crimes. The legislation responds to Somali fraud cases in Minnesota and has gained support from immigration hardliners and policy groups who view it as necessary to restore integrity to the naturalization process.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
US Senator Eric Schmitt has introduced comprehensive legislation aimed at expanding the federal government's authority to revoke American citizenship from naturalized citizens who engage in serious criminal activity. The Republican senator from Missouri unveiled the Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation (SCAM) Act against the backdrop of reported large-scale welfare fraud involving Somali crime rings in Minnesota, cases that have included convictions of naturalized US citizens.
Legislative Framework and Objectives
The SCAM Act seeks to restore what Schmitt described as the "integrity" of the naturalization process by allowing authorities to initiate denaturalization proceedings against individuals who, through fraud, serious felonies, or links to terrorist organizations, are deemed never to have met the legal requirements for citizenship. The legislation would expand existing grounds for citizenship revocation to address what supporters view as gaps in current law.
"American citizenship is a privilege," Schmitt stated, arguing that those who commit felony fraud, serious crimes, or join terrorist organizations such as drug cartels shortly after taking the citizenship oath "fail to uphold the basic standards of citizenship." He emphasized that such individuals must be denaturalized because they have demonstrated they were never eligible for "the great honour of American citizenship" in the first place.
Expanded Denaturalization Grounds
The proposed legislation would broaden the circumstances under which citizenship can be revoked to include several new categories of offenses:
| Grounds for Denaturalization: | Description |
|---|---|
| Welfare Program Fraud: | Involvement in substantial fraud against federal, state, or local welfare programs |
| Terrorist Affiliation: | Association with designated foreign terrorist organizations |
| Serious Criminal Activity: | Participation in aggravated felonies or espionage |
| Existing Fraud Provisions: | Enhanced enforcement of current fraud-based denaturalization rules |
Political and Policy Support
The bill has drawn strong endorsement from immigration hardliners and policy organizations. Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, described the alleged Somali fraud case as "one of the greatest financial scandals in American history" and advocated that immigrants who commit fraud against the US should be "immediately denaturalized and deported."
Several policy groups have endorsed the legislative initiative. Cooper Smith of the America First Policy Institute said the bill would help ensure that "fraud, deception or violence have no place in the naturalization process," while Joe Chatham of the Federation for American Immigration Reform argued it would protect national security and preserve the principles of US citizenship.
Implementation and Enforcement
Mike Howell, President of the Oversight Project, characterized the legislation as addressing long-standing failures in screening immigrants for assimilation and moral character. He praised Senator Schmitt as the "right legislative advocate" to push reforms that prioritize American interests, suggesting the bill represents a significant shift in how citizenship violations would be handled.
The legislation comes amid broader immigration policy changes, including expanded visa bond requirements that now affect 38 countries, with applicants from certain nations required to post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for US visas. These measures reflect a comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement and citizenship integrity.
18
