House Passes Deportation Bill for Welfare Fraud

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday requiring the deportation of noncitizens convicted of or admitting to welfare fraud, amid partisan divisions over immigration enforcement. The vote was 231 to 186, with Republicans supporting the measure and nearly all Democrats voting against it.

The Deporting Fraudsters Act, sponsored by Rep. David Taylor, R-Ohio, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to designate specific acts of public benefits fraud as grounds for inadmissibility and deportation. The offenses covered include fraud related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Social Security benefits, programs receiving federal funds, and the production of fraudulent identification documents. Under the bill, individuals who admit to or are convicted of such acts would be ineligible for immigration relief, including protections against removal to countries where they face torture.

Republicans argued that the measure strengthens safeguards for taxpayer-funded programs by ensuring noncitizens who commit fraud face swift removal and are barred from returning. "If you admit to or you're convicted of fraudulently receiving public benefits, you...