Congressman Pat Harrigan Introduces the Expatriate Terrorists Act

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10), alongside Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), introduced the Expatriate Terrorists Act of 2026, legislation to ensure that individuals who become U.S. citizens and then turn against this country by committing or supporting terrorism can be stripped of their citizenship and removed from the United States.

In just the past few weeks, Americans have watched terrorist attacks unfold in Texas, New York, Virginia, and Michigan, each tied to individuals who had gained access to this country through our immigration system. These incidents are not isolated, they are a warning. Once citizenship is granted, current law makes it extraordinarily difficult to act, even when someone openly aligns with or supports our enemies.

"Current law makes it nearly impossible to strip citizenship from individuals who turn around and support or commit terrorism. That is unacceptable. The Expatriate Terrorists Act fixes that by expanding the grounds for denaturalization, eliminating the intent requirement, and mandating immediate detention and deportation once citizenship is revoked," said Congressman Harrigan."If you come to this country, take the oath, and then side with terrorists, you have forfeited your right to be here."

The Expatriate Terrorists Act closes that gap by making clear that citizenship is not a shield for those who betray it. The bill establishes that individuals who commit, attempt to commit, or materially support terrorism, or who join or assist designated foreign terrorist organizations, can be denaturalized and treated as deportable. It creates a presumption of deportability for convicted terrorists, allows removal proceedings to move forward alongside denaturalization, and requires courts to prioritize these cases. It also mandates detention for individuals subject to removal on terrorism grounds, ensuring they are not released back into American communities while their cases are pending.