Congress expands deportation grounds for non-citizens convicted of benefit fraud

What it does

This bill amends immigration law to make aliens (non-citizens) who have been convicted of defrauding the U.S. Government or unlawfully receiving public benefits (like food stamps, Social Security, or federal aid) ineligible for entry and deportable if already in the country. It also bars them from any form of immigration relief, including asylum or cancellation of removal. The bill targets fraud and benefit theft across multiple federal programs.

Why we flagged it

The bill clarifies and expands existing immigration law by adding specific fraud-related grounds for inadmissibility and deportability. It is a straightforward enforcement measure targeting non-citizens convicted of defrauding the government or unlawfully receiving public benefits.

What the text implies

• The bill's reference to 'admits having committed' or 'admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements' may allow deportation based on statements or admissions without formal conviction, potentially lowering the evidentiary bar.
• The catch-all clause (viii) — 'any other offense that involves defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of a Federal public benefit' — is broad and may capture offenses not explicitly listed, creating uncertainty about which convictions trigger deportability.
• Ineligibility for 'any relief under the immigration laws' (subsection c) is absolute and includes discretionary forms of relief (e.g., cancellation of removal, asylum), removing judicial discretion even in cases of hardship or family separation.
• The bill applies retroactively to aliens already convicted of these offenses, potentially affecting long-term residents or green-card holders with old convictions.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill targets fraud and theft of public benefits, protecting taxpayer-funded programs from abuse by non-citizens. Ordinary citizens benefit from enforcement of fraud laws and protection of limited public resources. The restriction applies only to those convicted of fraud or unlawful benefit receipt, not to lawful immigrants or citizens.

Named in the bill

Immigration and Nationality Act, Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, Social Security Act, 18 U.S.C. § 666, 18 U.S.C. § 1028, 18 U.S.C. § 1031, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 63, 18 U.S.C. § 371, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999

Where it stands

34 cosponsors: 34 Republicans.

• Mar 6, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 6, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary and Senate Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”
• Jan 13, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jan 13, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 11”
• Mar 18, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 231 - 186 (Roll no. 94).”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

3 lobbying clients named this bill on 3 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $790,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 24 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 61% of bills with at least one filing.

David Taylor, the sponsor, reported $453,000 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Southern Poverty Law Center, Inc. — $480,000 on 1 filing
• Service Employees International Union Ctw-clc — $300,000 on 1 filing
• Act for America — $10,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.