Republicans Push To Denaturalize Fraudsters Who Scammed Taxpayers

A fraud conviction could trigger denaturalization under the Immigration and Nationality Act, amid growing concerns over the misuse of taxpayer dollars in Minnesota.

The “Fraud Accountability Act” would specifically designate fraud under the INA as a crime that could result in deportation and loss of U.S. citizenship. The bill is sponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Ted Budd (R-NC), with Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) introducing a companion measure in the House.

“Anyone who comes to the United States and steals from American taxpayers by committing fraud should be deported,” Blackburn stated. “The fraud schemes we have seen in Minnesota and across the country are a betrayal of hardworking American taxpayers, and individuals like the Somali scammers in Minnesota should be subject to both deportation and denaturalization for these crimes. The Fraud Accountability Act would hold these criminals accountable for robbing American taxpayers.”

“The rampant and unprecedented fraud uncovered in Minnesota involving Somali-run childcare centers and nonprofits is unconscionable, and Governor Walz’s complete deflection of any responsibility for this massive theft of U.S. taxpayer dollars under his watch is cowardly but unsurprising,” Cornyn stated.

Earlier this week, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, announced he would not seek a third term as governor amid mounting scrutiny over fraud allegations and convictions tied to the state’s social programs, such as Medicaid.

The Justice Department has brought fraud charges against 98 individuals in Minnesota, 60 of whom have pleaded guilty, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who said 85 of the defendants were of Somali descent.

“We have more prosecutions coming…BUCKLE UP, LAWMAKERS!” she posted to X following a viral video from independent journalist Nick Shirley alleging widespread fraud at daycare centers.

While it’s unclear at this time what the results of legal investigations into daycares specifically will be, the video accelerated federal attention to the issue. In total, federal prosecutors estimate the fraud could be as high as $9 billion, according to CBS News.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said there would be an audit to assess how federal taxpayer dollars are being used for 14 Medicaid programs in Minnesota, along with a pause in payments.

“We will begin auditing Medicaid receipts and defer paying on claims based on fraud, waste, and abuse,” he said, The Daily Wire reported.