H.R. 1958

Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026

Sponsor: David J. Taylor

34 cosponsors
Follow this bill

Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026

This bill makes certain acts related to public benefits fraud grounds for (1) barring a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) from admission into the United States, or (2) deporting the individual. The bill also makes such an individual ineligible for immigration enforcement relief, including relief for an individual in danger of subjection to torture.

Specifically, this bill applies to individuals who have been convicted of, admit to having committed, or admit to acts which constitute certain offenses. Offenses covered by this bill include (1) fraud involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, (2) fraud involving Social Security benefits, (3) fraud involving programs that receive federal funds, and (4) the production of fraudulent identification documents.

Text of the bill

Collapse all
Sec. 1. Short title Changed · Jan 27

This Act may be cited as the Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026.

Sec. 2. Inadmissibility and deportability related to defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits Changed · Jan 27

(a) Inadmissibility. Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(J) Defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits. Any alien who has been convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of— is inadmissible.

(i) an offense described in section 15 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2024) (relating to violations of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits);

(ii) an offense described in section 208 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 408) (relating to fraud involving social security account numbers or social security cards);

(iii) an offense described in section 666 of title 18, United States Code (relating to theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds);

(iv) an offense described in section 1028 of title 18, United States Code (relating to fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features, and information);

(v) an offense described in section 1031 of title 18, United States Code (relating to major fraud against the United States);

(vi) an offense described under chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code (relating to mail fraud and other fraud offenses);

(vii) an offense described in section 371 of title 18, United States Code (relating to conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States);

(viii) any other offense that involves defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of a Federal public benefit (as such term is defined in section 401(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611) or a State or local public benefit (as such term is defined in section 411(c) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1621)); or

(ix) a conspiracy to commit an offense described in clause (i) through (viii),

(b) Deportability. Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(G) Defrauding the United States government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits. Any alien who has been convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of— is deportable.

(i) an offense described in section 15 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2024) (relating to violations of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits);

(ii) an offense described in section 208 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 408) (relating to fraud involving social security account numbers or social security cards);

(iii) an offense described in section 666 of title 18, United States Code (relating to theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds);

(iv) an offense described in section 1028 of title 18, United States Code (relating to fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features, and information);

(v) an offense described in section 1031 of title 18, United States Code (relating to major fraud against the United States);

(vi) an offense described under chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code (relating to mail fraud and other fraud offenses);

(vii) an offense described in section 371 of title 18, United States Code (relating to conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States);

(viii) any other offense that involves defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of a Federal public benefit (as such term is defined in section 401(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611)) or a State or local public benefit (as such term is defined in section 411(c) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1621)); or

(ix) a conspiracy to commit an offense described in clause (i) through (viii),

(c) Ineligibility for any immigration relief. Any alien described in subparagraph (J) of section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1128(a)(2)(J)) or subparagraph (G) of section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) shall be ineligible for any relief under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)), including under section 2242 of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (112 Stat. 2681).