HR1958-119

What This Bill Does

The Deporting Fraudsters Act expands immigration consequences for fraud tied to public benefits, identity documents, federal funds, and the United States government. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act so a noncitizen is inadmissible if the person is convicted of, admits, or admits acts constituting specified offenses, including SNAP violations, Social Security account or card fraud, theft or bribery involving federal funds, identity-document fraud, major fraud against the United States, mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, other offenses involving defrauding the federal government, or unlawful receipt of federal, state, or local public benefits. It adds parallel deportability grounds for noncitizens after admission and includes conspiracies to commit the listed offenses. It also makes covered noncitizens ineligible for immigration relief, including relief under section 2242 of the 1999 emergency supplemental appropriations law.

Who Benefits and How

Federal public benefit programs benefit from expanded immigration enforcement consequences for SNAP, Social Security, and other benefit fraud. Federal taxpayers benefit if the rule deters unlawful receipt of federal public benefits or fraud against federal funds. State and local public benefit programs benefit because unlawful receipt of state or local benefits can also trigger immigration consequences. DHS immigration officers, USCIS adjudicators, and immigration prosecutors gain clearer statutory grounds for inadmissibility, deportability, and relief denial. Anti-fraud enforcement advocates benefit from a direct link between fraud convictions or admissions and immigration removal consequences.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Noncitizens convicted of or admitting covered fraud offenses face inadmissibility, deportability, and loss of immigration relief. Noncitizens accused of conspiracy to commit listed fraud offenses face the same immigration consequences. Immigration judges and DHS adjudicators must apply the expanded statutory grounds across benefit-fraud, identity-document, federal-funds, and mail or wire fraud categories. Defense attorneys and immigration counsel must evaluate collateral immigration consequences for the listed fraud offenses. Families of affected noncitizens may lose access to immigration relief pathways if a covered conviction or admission triggers removal.

Key Provisions

• Amends INA inadmissibility rules for specified fraud and public-benefit offenses.
• Adds deportability grounds for noncitizens convicted of or admitting covered fraud conduct after admission.
• Covers SNAP violations, Social Security account or card fraud, federal-funds theft or bribery, identity-document fraud, major fraud, mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
• Extends coverage to unlawful receipt of federal, state, or local public benefits.
• Includes conspiracies to commit the listed fraud offenses.
• Bars covered noncitizens from immigration relief, including specified statutory protection claims.