Fraud Accountability Act
Summary
The Fraud Accountability Act aims to enhance the deportation process for aliens convicted of fraud and grant courts concurrent jurisdiction to revoke the citizenship of naturalized citizens convicted of fraud. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include fraud as a deportable offense, regardless of the fraud loss threshold. The bill also mandates detention for aliens convicted of fraud and allows courts to revoke citizenship upon conviction of fraud-related offenses.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to an increase in deportations of aliens convicted of fraud. It will also increase the number of naturalized citizens losing their citizenship due to fraud convictions. The act could also deter fraud by both aliens and naturalized citizens.
Potential Benefits
- Increased public safety by removing individuals convicted of fraud.
- Potential cost savings from reduced fraud against government entities and private individuals.
- Strengthened integrity of the naturalization process.
- Deterrent effect on potential fraud perpetrators.
- May lead to a fairer system by holding individuals accountable for fraudulent activities.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for due process concerns regarding denaturalization.
- Increased burden on the immigration court system.
- Risk of disproportionate impact on certain communities.
- Possible erosion of trust in the naturalization process due to increased revocations.
- Could lead to family separation if the deported individual has family in the US.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is complex. While Congress has broad power over immigration and naturalization (Article I, Section 8), denaturalization raises due process concerns under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. The bill grants concurrent jurisdiction to courts, which aligns with the principle of judicial review, but the retroactive application of Section 4(b) could face challenges under the Ex Post Facto Clause.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).