SouthernWorldwide.com – Senator Eric Schmitt, a Republican from Missouri, engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. The debate centered on a bill concerning the denaturalization of individuals convicted of fraud and other crimes.
Senator Hirono, who is a naturalized citizen herself, voiced her concerns about the SCAM Act, officially known as the Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation Act. She argued that the proposed legislation would impose more stringent requirements on naturalized citizens compared to those born in the United States.
“I happen to be the only naturalized citizen sitting on this committee, and I am horrified by the implication that naturalized citizens basically get second-class citizenship,” Hirono stated. She further elaborated, “As a naturalized citizen, I’m proud of it. I can’t think of a more undemocratic, un-American thing to do to someone who chooses to become a U.S. citizen than to hold this over their heads and treat us like second-class citizens.”
Hirono pointed out that the SCAM Act could lead to prosecution for offenses such as welfare fraud, even for individuals who committed crimes a decade prior, including those guilty of murder or other serious offenses.
In response, Senator Schmitt accused Hirono of defending criminals. He specifically mentioned individuals convicted of rape, murder, and fraud, asserting that these individuals were defrauding taxpayers.
“What I’m saying in this bill is if you do those things to the American people, if you take advantage of taxpayers… if you commit a terrorist act, if you commit wholesale welfare fraud, within 10 years, you’re damn right we’re deporting you,” Schmitt retorted. He emphasized his stance: “If you are convicted in a court of law of these crimes, absolutely we should not only convict you, but we should deport you. Gone. And if you think that’s some sort of negative assertion toward me, I’ll take it. I love it.”
The Trump administration has previously claimed that its anti-fraud initiatives have recovered billions of dollars, a sum they suggested could be sufficient to balance the federal budget.
Former President Donald Trump echoed these sentiments on his social media platform, Truth Social. He stated, “Vice President JD Vance and Republicans are doing a great job hunting down Fraud in the various States. Billions of Dollars is being found, and we’ve just started!”
Republicans have advocated for the revocation of citizenship for naturalized U.S. citizens who are convicted of certain crimes, including fraud.
Senator Schmitt brought up the case of Mirsad Ramic as an example. Ramic, during his 2009 naturalization ceremony, reportedly refused to recite the oath of allegiance and instead recited an Islamic oath, while also cursing non-Muslims. Ramic was later reported to have joined the Islamic State terror group.
Another case cited by Schmitt involved Mohamed Bailor Jalloh. Jalloh is suspected of being the gunman in a shooting incident at Old Dominion University, which resulted in one fatality and two injuries. Jalloh was a naturalized U.S. citizen who had previously been convicted of providing material support to ISIS.
