Republican Bill Seeks to Denaturalize US Citizens Linked to Terrorism

Lawmakers call for expanded authority to revoke citizenship of naturalized citizens involved in terrorist activities

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:07pm

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Republican lawmakers are pushing for new legislation that would allow the federal government to denaturalize and deport naturalized U.S. citizens who are involved in terrorism, following a series of attacks by naturalized citizens. The proposed SCAM Act would expand the circumstances under which citizenship can be revoked, sparking debate over citizenship, punishment, and deportation in terrorism cases.

Why it matters

A string of high-profile attacks involving naturalized U.S. citizens has intensified a Republican push to broaden the ability to denaturalize citizens, a rare legal process historically tied to fraud or ineligibility at the time citizenship was granted. The debate is now colliding with live national-security investigations and could shape how lawmakers and prosecutors frame citizenship, punishment, and deportation in terrorism-related cases.

The details

Republican Representative Riley Moore of West Virginia announced plans to introduce a bill that would denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who commits an act of terrorism, plots to commit an act of terrorism, joins a terrorist organization, or otherwise aids and abets terrorism. Other Republican figures, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt, have expressed similar sentiments. Schmitt has already introduced the SCAM Act, which would expand federal authority to denaturalize citizens obtained through naturalization if later conduct shows they were never eligible in the first place.

  • On Friday, Representative Riley Moore announced plans to introduce a bill to denaturalize and deport naturalized citizens involved in terrorism.
  • In January, Senator Eric Schmitt introduced the SCAM Act to expand federal authority to denaturalize citizens obtained through naturalization.

The players

Riley Moore

A Republican Representative from West Virginia who announced plans to introduce a bill to denaturalize and deport naturalized citizens involved in terrorism.

Ron DeSantis

The Republican Governor of Florida who reacted to a recent shooting by a naturalized citizen by criticizing that the individual was allowed to immigrate and retain citizenship despite a prior terrorism conviction.

Tom Emmer

A Republican Congressman from Minnesota who serves as the House Majority Whip and has called for the ability to denaturalize and deport terrorists.

Eric Schmitt

A Republican Senator from Missouri who has introduced the SCAM Act, which would expand federal authority to denaturalize citizens obtained through naturalization.

Will Cain

A conservative commentator who noted a recent spate of attacks involving naturalized citizens.

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What they’re saying

“The security of our nation hinges on our ability to denaturalize and deport terrorists. No sane country would let them stay.”

— Tom Emmer, House Majority Whip

“Congress should pass the SCAM Act so we can denaturalize and deport those who fraudulently obtained citizenship and never should have been here in the first place. Mohammad Jalloh is exactly why.”

— Eric Schmitt, U.S. Senator

“If you're convicted of a terrorism charge, that should be mandatory denaturalization.”

— Dan Bongino, Former Deputy Director of the FBI

“Somebody who's been a naturalized citizen and then is convicted of a crime, they go to prison just like other citizens. But the fact that you've been convicted of a crime by itself does not render you eligible for denaturalization.”

— Ahilan Arulanantham, UCLA Law Professor

“If we have criminals that came into our country and they were naturalized, maybe through Biden or somebody that didn't know what they were doing. If I have the power to do it—I'm not sure that I do, but if I do, I would denaturalize. Absolutely.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

The SCAM Act is already pending in both the Senate and House, and investigations into recent incidents involving naturalized citizens are still ongoing.

The takeaway

The push to expand denaturalization authority is colliding with live national security investigations, raising complex questions about citizenship, punishment, and deportation in terrorism cases. The debate highlights the political tensions around immigration and national security in the current climate.