Passed House. Latest step, Mar 19, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The House passed it 231–186. It would change 2 sections of existing law.
How this bill changes the law
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H.R. 1958 would change 2 sections of existing law. Read from the bill text as sent to the Senate (Mar 19, 2026).
(J) Defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits.— Any alien who has been convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of—is inadmissible.(i) an offense described in section 15 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2024) (relating to violations of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits);(ii) an offense described in section 208 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 408) (relating to fraud involving social security account numbers or social security cards);(iii) an offense described in section 666 of title 18, United States Code (relating to theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds);(iv) an offense described in section 1028 of title 18, United States Code (relating to fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features, and information);(v) an offense described in section 1031 of title 18, United States Code (relating to major fraud against the United States);(vi) an offense described under chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code (relating to mail fraud and other fraud offenses);(vii) an offense described in section 371 of title 18, United States Code (relating to conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States);(viii) any other offense that involves defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of a Federal public benefit (as such term is defined in section 401(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611) or a State or local public benefit (as such term is defined in section 411(c) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1621)); or(ix) a conspiracy to commit an offense described in clause (i) through (viii),
The bill says: Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)a new sectionadded (G)by H.R. 1958 Sec. 2(b)
(G) Defrauding the United States government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits.— Any alien who has been convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of—is deportable.(i) an offense described in section 15 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2024) (relating to violations of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits);(ii) an offense described in section 208 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 408) (relating to fraud involving social security account numbers or social security cards);(iii) an offense described in section 666 of title 18, United States Code (relating to theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds);(iv) an offense described in section 1028 of title 18, United States Code (relating to fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features, and information);(v) an offense described in section 1031 of title 18, United States Code (relating to major fraud against the United States);(vi) an offense described under chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code (relating to mail fraud and other fraud offenses);(vii) an offense described in section 371 of title 18, United States Code (relating to conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States);(viii) any other offense that involves defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of a Federal public benefit (as such term is defined in section 401(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611)) or a State or local public benefit (as such term is defined in section 411(c) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1621)); or(ix) a conspiracy to commit an offense described in clause (i) through (viii),
The bill says: Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.
What it does
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Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026
This bill makes certain acts related to public benefits fraud grounds for (1) barring a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) from admission into the United States, or (2) deporting the individual. The bill also makes such an individual ineligible for immigration enforcement relief, including relief for an individual in danger of subjection to torture.
Specifically, this bill applies to individuals who have been convicted of, admit to having committed, or admit to acts which constitute certain offenses. Offenses covered by this bill include (1) fraud involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, (2) fraud involving Social Security benefits, (3) fraud involving programs that receive federal funds, and (4) the production of fraudulent identification documents.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Reported to House, Jan 27, 2026).
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.
What has happened
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Mar 18, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 231 - 186 (Roll no. 94). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2568) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
Jan 27, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-467.Library of Congress