House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., has introduced a plan to end the rampant fraud not only in his home state of Minnesota but across the country.
In response to massive amounts of fraud uncovered in Minnesota—most prominently at the hands of the state’s large Somali population—Emmer has introduced the SCAM Act to denaturalize fraudsters, terrorists, and felons throughout the country.
“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 in a press release of the announcement.
Emmer introduced the SCAM Act, or the Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation Act, on Tuesday.
“Some naturalized citizens have treated their new citizenship status as a purely administrative benefit they can leverage for their own personal gain,” Emmer told The Daily Signal. “They won’t get away with that anymore,” Emmer added.
The legislation notes that, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, during the naturalization process, applicants must demonstrate that they are persons of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.
The SCAM Act would clarify what good moral character means and allow the government to prove that a person did not meet the requirements. Anyone who has been convicted of government welfare fraud, is affiliated with a transnational criminal organization like a terror group or a drug cartel, or convicted of an aggravated felony within 10 years of naturalization is in jeopardy of being denaturalized.
“The SCAM Act will expand and clarify the grounds for denaturalization, making it easier to denaturalize criminals who commit fraud, an aggravated felony, espionage, or join a terrorist group within ten years of their naturalization,” said Emmer.
There are about 7 million people in the U.S. who have been naturalized in the past 10 years who would be subject to denaturalization if found guilty of any of the crimes Emmer lists.
The Department of Justice recently launched an investigation into multiple Minnesota state officials, including Democrat Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, to uncover if there is a connection to the fraud schemes.
The DOJ has charged roughly 100 people in Minnesota with fraud-related charges as of late. A large majority of them are of Somali descent.
The Treasury Department and the IRS have also launched multiple investigations and audits throughout the state related to fraud.
The Senate is pushing a similar piece of legislation, also called the SCAM Act, introduced by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., the day prior.
