Legislation advancing to the Senate would classify benefit fraud as grounds for removal under federal immigration law.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would make welfare fraud a deportable offense for noncitizens, sending the measure to the Senate for further consideration following a closely divided vote.
The bill, titled the “Deporting Fraudsters Act,” passed by a vote of 231–186, with Republican lawmakers largely supporting the proposal and most Democrats voting in opposition. The legislation would amend existing immigration law to explicitly include fraud involving public benefits as a basis for removal from the United States.
In a statement shared by the House Judiciary Committee’s Republican majority on X, lawmakers said the measure is intended to “crack down on fraud, protect Americans’ tax dollars, and uphold the rule of law.”
Supporters of the bill said it would ensure that individuals who fraudulently obtain taxpayer-funded benefits are no longer eligible to remain in the country or receive immigration relief. During floor debate, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., stated, “If you admit to or you’re convicted of fraudulently receiving public benefits, you are out of here on the next plane and can never return.”
Additional remarks from McClintock were highlighted in a separate post, in which he said lawmakers were acting to protect taxpayers from fraud.
According to reporting from Fox News, the legislation was introduced by Rep. David Taylor, R-Ohio, and would revise provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act to define fraud as a deportable offense. Republican lawmakers argued that the measure is necessary to prevent individuals who improperly receive benefits from maintaining legal protections under immigration law.
Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill, arguing that existing law already allows for deportation of noncitizens convicted of fraud-related offenses. During debate, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., described the measure as unnecessary, stating, “Another week, another redundant and completely unnecessary immigration crime bill.”
Raskin and other Democrats also raised concerns about due process provisions in the legislation, arguing that it could allow deportation proceedings to move forward before a criminal conviction is secured. He said the bill could remove individuals from the country without completing the judicial process, potentially limiting accountability in fraud cases.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain as lawmakers weigh its legal and policy implications.
Original article
Comments