House Passes Deporting Fraudsters Act
GOP-backed bill makes welfare fraud a deportable offense as most Democrats oppose the measure in a sharply divided vote
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation aimed at deporting illegal immigrants who commit fraud against federal benefit programs, marking another step in a broader push to tighten immigration enforcement.
The bill, known as the Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026, was introduced by Representative Dave Taylor (R-OH). It amends federal immigration law to make defrauding the U.S. government or unlawfully receiving public benefits a deportable offense.
“It’s a no-brainer – if an illegal alien defrauds the United States or steals benefits from our nation’s most vulnerable, they should be permanently removed from our country,” Taylor said in a statement following earlier action on the bill.
The legislation also bars those individuals from receiving future federal benefits and applies to cases involving programs such as Social Security or SNAP.
Supporters argue the measure closes a gap in current law. While fraud can already carry criminal penalties, it is not always explicitly listed as a deportable offense under existing immigration statutes.
“Anyone illegally in the U.S. who steals taxpayer dollars through fraud has no place here,” said Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT), a cosponsor of the bill.
The bill drew strong support from Republicans, who have made immigration enforcement a central issue in recent sessions of Congress. Several GOP lawmakers framed the measure as a way to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure public benefits are reserved for eligible recipients.
“American taxpayers should not be forced to bankroll fraud committed by people who are in this country illegally,” said Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY).
However, the vote exposed deep partisan divisions. According to reporting on the House vote, nearly 200 Democrats opposed the legislation, continuing a pattern of disagreement over immigration-related enforcement bills.
Democrats who voted against the bill are likely to face even sharper scrutiny in light of recent fraud scandals that have shaken public confidence. In Minnesota, investigators have uncovered sprawling schemes tied to pandemic food programs and social services, including the “Feeding Our Future” case that alone cost taxpayers at least $300 million, with broader fraud estimates climbing far higher in ongoing probes. Federal officials have also frozen portions of aid in States including California over “serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars” in benefit programs.
Against that backdrop, critics argue that opposing deportation for those who exploit these systems sends a troubling signal. They contend it leaves open the door for continued abuse, diverting limited resources away from American citizens—especially low-income families and seniors—who depend on these programs to meet basic needs. In their view, the vote reflects not just a policy disagreement, but a willingness to tolerate a status quo where fraud can flourish while vulnerable Americans are left waiting in line — or forced to go without.
The measure now moves to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain.
The full text for the Deporting Fraudsters Act is available HERE.
