House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) has introduced a new piece of legislation known as the Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation (SCAM) Act in order to provide clarification concerning what evidence can be used by the federal government to prove a person did not meet the lawful requirements at the time they became a naturalized citizen.
The bill opens the door for any individual who, within a 10-year period of their naturalization, is convicted of fraud against the government, is a member of or in some way affiliated with a foreign terrorist organization, or is convicted of espionage or an aggravated felony, to be denaturalized. Much of the inspiration for the SCAM Act comes from the rampant fraud within the Somali community in Emmer’s state of Minnesota.
“If you came to this country to harm and take advantage of the American people, I’ve got news for you: You’re going home,” Emmer said while discussing the bill. “Anyone who commits fraud against American taxpayers, affiliates with a terrorist organization, or commits an aggravated felony or espionage after becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen never met the requirements for naturalization in the first place and should be denaturalized and deported. It’s common sense and the SCAM Act will make it law.”
“This legislation not only holds Somali fraudsters in Minnesota accountable, but it restores long-overdue integrity to America’s entire naturalization process. It’s time to send them home,” Emmer said in a post on his official website. Republican sponsors of the bill include Representatives Pete Stauber (R-MN), Chip Roy (R-TX), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Nancy Mace (R-SC), and many others.
Several organizations have also given the legislation their approval, including the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Immigration Accountability Project, National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE), and AMAC Action, an affiliate of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). Joe Chatham, director of FAIR, spoke about the SCAM Act, saying, “The Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation Act would take bold steps to safeguard the American public from criminal exploitation, defend against national security threats, and ensure that the virtues of U.S. citizenship continue to be protected and preserved.”
“Engaging in serious criminal conduct, fraud, or terrorist activity undermines those principles and warrants immediate, decisive action. FAIR commends Congressman Emmer for introducing this crucial legislation and urges its swift passage in the House,” he added. RJ Hauman, president of NICE, said of the bill, “The National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE) proudly supports the Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation (SCAM) Act as a necessary measure to restore integrity to American citizenship. Naturalization is a sacred commitment to the United States—not an administrative loophole to exploit for personal gain.”
“This bill correctly recognizes that committing substantial welfare fraud, joining drug cartels or terrorist organizations, or committing aggravated felonies shortly after naturalization is prima facie evidence that the statutory requirements of good moral character, attachment to constitutional principles, and being well disposed to the good order of the United States were never truly met,” Hauman stated.
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Grant Newman, Director of Government Relations Immigration Accountability Project, called the SCAM Act a “critical step toward restoring the integrity of the naturalization process,” and went on to add that being an American citizen is a “privilege, yet for too long, bad actors have exploited it as a shield for criminal activity.” He also praised the bill for containing the tools necessary to revoke this privilege for those who join transnational organized crime groups.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video