NEWS RELEASE: Senator Moody Urges Passage of SCAM Act After Terrorist Attacks by Naturalized Citizens

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following recent terrorist attacks carried out by naturalized citizens, Senator Ashley Moody is calling for the passage of the SCAM Act-a bill she is cosponsoring. The SCAM Act or Stopping Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation Act would increase safety and protect the integrity of American citizenship by ensuring individuals who join terrorist organizations or are naturalized through fraud or deception can have their citizenship revoked.

Senator Ashley Moody said, "Recent terrorist attacks carried out by naturalized citizens expose dangerous gaps in our system. Terrorists are exploiting our naturalization process to remain in the United States while plotting violence against Americans. Congress must act now to close these loopholes and protect our communities by passing the SCAM Act."

Yesterday, a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" before opening fire in an Old Dominion University classroom, killing a professor and injuring two others. The attack is being investigated as an act of terror. The shooter was previously convicted of and served prison time for providing information to ISIS, a terror organization, and was released and not de-naturalized during the Biden administration. In a separate event yesterday, a naturalized Lebanese-born citizen rammed a vehicle into a Jewish synagogue in Michigan.

Last week, a naturalized citizen opened fire in Austin, Texas, killing two and wounding 14 at a bar, wearing a "Property of Allah" shirt. Following these potential terrorist attacks and the massive welfare fraud scheme uncovered in Minnesota by naturalized citizens, concerns are raised regarding gaps in the system used to vet applicants into this country.

The SCAM Act also follows the exposure of the $250 million Feeding Our Future welfare fraud scheme in Minnesota-one of the largest pandemic fraud cases in U.S. history. Several individuals convicted in the scheme were U.S. citizens through the naturalization process.

Under current law, the Supreme Court has held that citizenship can be revoked when it was unlawfully obtained through concealment or misrepresentation of material facts.

Applicants for citizenship must demonstrate good moral character, support for the principles of the Constitution, and a commitment to the good order of the United States.

When individuals commit major crimes shortly after becoming citizens-such as large-scale government fraud, affiliating with foreign terrorist organizations, aggravated felonies, or espionage-it raises serious questions about whether those requirements were ever met.

The SCAM Act clarifies the types of evidence the government may use to revoke citizenship obtained through fraud, including when an individual within 10 years of naturalization:

• Commits a major fraud against federal, state, or local government programs
• Affiliates with a designated foreign terrorist organization
• Commits an aggravated felony or espionage offense

The bill also ensures that individuals who lose citizenship through this process can be quickly deported.

# # #