Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., clashed with Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, during Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on denaturalization policy, where the two sparred over legislation that would strip citizenship from naturalized U.S. citizens convicted of certain crimes.
The hearing, titled "Protecting American Citizenship III: Denaturalization and its Constitutional Limits," centered on the SCAM Act, or Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation Act, introduced by Republicans as part of the Trump administration's broader immigration enforcement agenda.
Hirono, who immigrated from Japan and is a naturalized citizen herself, argued against the bill during her testimony. "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," she said. "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."
What the Right Is Saying
Schmitt fired back at Hirono's criticism, accusing her of defending criminals including rapists, murderers, and fraudsters who he said were ripping off 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 said.
He defended the legislation as a matter of protecting public safety and fiscal integrity. "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."
Schmitt cited the case of Mirsad Ramic, who refused to recite the oath of allegiance at his 2009 naturalization ceremony and later joined the Islamic State terror group. He also referenced Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a suspected shooter in the Old Dominion University shooting who had previously been convicted of providing material support to ISIS despite being a naturalized citizen.
Republicans have pointed to Trump administration claims that anti-fraud efforts have uncovered billions of dollars in improper payments, with some suggesting such funds could help balance the federal budget. "Vice President JD Vance and Republicans are doing a great job hunting down Fraud in the various States," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Billions of Dollars is being found, and we've just started!"
What the Left Is Saying
Hirono accused the Trump administration of "terrorizing immigrant communities" through denaturalization efforts. She argued that the SCAM Act would impose stricter requirements on naturalized citizens than those born in the United States, effectively creating a two-tiered system of citizenship.
"We can talk about people 10 years later who commit murder or heinous acts, but the SCAM Act also allows people to be prosecuted for welfare fraud," Hirono added. She warned that the legislation could ensnare individuals for relatively minor offenses committed long after their naturalization, undermining the stability and finality of citizenship.
Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern that the bill could be used to target political opponents or specific immigrant communities rather than focusing solely on serious criminals. Civil liberties groups argue that denaturalization violates the Fourteenth Amendment's protections against deprivation of citizenship without due process of law.
What the Numbers Show
The SCAM Act would allow the federal government to revoke citizenship from naturalized citizens convicted of fraud offenses, terrorism-related crimes, or other serious felonies within 10 years of naturalization.
Hirono noted during the hearing that she is the only naturalized citizen currently serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee has jurisdiction over immigration and citizenship legislation.
The Trump administration has claimed that fraud enforcement efforts have identified billions in improper payments across various federal programs, though independent analysts have questioned some of these figures and their attribution to specific anti-fraud initiatives.
The Bottom Line
Wednesday's exchange highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration and citizenship policy in the 118th Congress. Republicans argue that denaturalization is a necessary tool to protect public safety and deter fraud, while Democrats contend it undermines the constitutional promise of equal protection for all citizens regardless of how they obtained their status.
The SCAM Act remains under consideration in committee. If advanced, it would need to pass both chambers and be signed into law before taking effect. Legal experts have raised questions about whether broad denaturalization provisions could survive constitutional scrutiny under the Fourteenth Amendment.