The U.S. House of Representatives has approved H.R. 1958, known as the Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026, by a vote of 231–186. The legislation would make fraud against the federal government a deportable offense for individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States, expanding the scope of immigration enforcement tied to financial crimes involving public funds.
The bill was introduced by Dave Taylor and seeks to amend existing federal immigration law. Specifically, it would classify acts such as defrauding the United States or improperly obtaining taxpayer-funded benefits as grounds for both removal and inadmissibility. The measure targets individuals who commit—or admit to committing—fraud connected to federal assistance programs, including SNAP, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Under current law, certain criminal convictions can already lead to deportation. However, supporters of the bill argue that fraud involving government benefits is not consistently treated as a standalone deportable offense in every circumstance. They say the legislation is designed to address what they view as a gap in the law by explicitly adding fraud against the federal government to the list of offenses that can trigger removal proceedings.
Following the vote, Taylor described the measure as straightforward, stating that individuals who are in the country unlawfully and exploit public assistance systems should face permanent removal. In addition to establishing deportability, the bill would also make such individuals inadmissible for future entry into the United States and disqualify them from receiving additional federal benefits.
The legislation previously passed through the House Judiciary Committee on January 13, 2026, by a vote of 15–11 before moving to the House floor. The final vote of 231–186 largely reflected support from Republican lawmakers, with limited backing from Democrats.
Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said the bill is intended to strengthen accountability measures for foreign nationals who misuse taxpayer-funded programs. He argued that individuals who take advantage of public benefits systems should face clear legal consequences under immigration law.
In the Senate, companion legislation has been introduced by Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, and Mike Lee. As of now, the Senate has not scheduled a vote on the measure, and its future there remains uncertain.
According to background information cited by the bill’s sponsors, the White House Office of Management and Budget estimates that the federal government spends over $1 trillion each year on welfare and social service programs. Within that total, improper payments and fraudulent claims are estimated to range from $233 billion to $521 billion annually. Supporters of the legislation argue that these figures highlight the need for stronger enforcement tools.
They also pointed to several state-level investigations into fraud involving programs such as Medicaid and EBT benefits. These cases, reported in states like Minnesota, California, and New York, have been used to illustrate what proponents describe as systemic vulnerabilities in the administration of federally funded assistance programs.
The bill’s sponsors maintain that explicitly including fraud against the U.S. government in the deportability provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act would give federal authorities clearer legal authority when pursuing removal cases. They argue that this clarification would make enforcement more consistent and effective.
Importantly, the legislation would apply only to individuals who are unlawfully present in the country and who have either been convicted of or admitted to committing fraud involving federal funds. It does not change the underlying criminal laws related to fraud, identity theft, or misuse of benefits. Instead, it adds specific immigration consequences tied to those violations.
Taylor originally introduced the bill on March 6, 2025, with support from more than two dozen House Republicans who signed on as original cosponsors. Additional lawmakers later joined in backing the measure as it advanced through the legislative process.
With House approval secured, the bill now moves to the Senate, where its prospects will depend on whether it can gain enough bipartisan support to advance. If it passes the Senate and is ultimately signed into law, it would amend federal immigration statutes to broaden deportation eligibility by linking it more directly to fraud involving government assistance programs.
The measure represents one of several legislative efforts undertaken by House Republicans during this session aimed at tightening immigration enforcement. More broadly, it reflects an ongoing push to connect criminal conduct involving taxpayer funds with stricter immigration consequences, particularly for those residing in the United States without legal status.
