OPINION:
The left’s careless campaign to flood the country with foreigners resulted in unsavory folks being admitted to citizenship. Conservative lawmakers hope to change that by making it easy for Justice Department officials to revoke this status for terrorists, scam artists and crooks. FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the need for reform on Tuesday.
“When a naturalized citizen commits terrorism in the United States, current law makes revoking citizenship extremely difficult unless fraud in the naturalization process can be proven. That gap leaves serious national security concerns, and it’s a reality we have to confront head on,” he wrote on X.
Last week, a man born in Sierra Leone who was granted U.S. citizenship, opened fire in an Old Dominion University classroom in Virginia, murdering an instructor. ROTC cadets responded to the situation by knifing the shooter, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, before he could cause additional carnage.
Jalloh should not have been here. Ten years ago, he was convicted of sending cash to the Islamic State. According to the indictment, “Jalloh also stated he had been thinking about conducting an attack similar to the terrorist attack at Fort Hood, Texas, in November 2009, which killed 13 people and wounded 32 others.” Despite his penchant for violence and anti-American views, the courts freed him in 2024 and let him stay in the United States.
An innocent man is dead and two students were wounded as a consequence of this reckless policy. Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were charged last week with offering material support to ISIS. The teens allegedly lobbed a pair of improvised explosive devices at the “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” rally earlier this month.
Made from a lethal compound known as TATP, the bombs would have killed multiple attendees had they been assembled with greater diligence. According to police, Balat penned a confession where he wrote in his own hand: “I pledge my allegience [sic] to the Islamic State.” It makes no sense to permit individuals with such beliefs to live in the United States, despite any grant of citizenship through naturalization or the birthright loophole.
While stealing millions of dollars from taxpayers with bogus day care and hospice centers is a comparatively mild offense, such welfare cheats don’t belong on our shores, either. Sen. Eric Schmitt recently introduced the SCAM Act to get rid of both types of malefactors.
“American citizenship is a gift — and a sacred duty. But some didn’t come here to be Americans. They came to game the system and fleece the American taxpayer. That’s why I introduced the SCAM Act to expand denaturalization and deportation for scammers,” the Missouri Republican wrote on X.
Mr. Schmitt cites the Supreme Court case United States v. Ginsberg, which states “No alien has the slightest right to naturalization unless all statutory requirements are complied with.” Tossing a bomb or creating a theft ring ought to be enough proof that the suspect was fibbing when taking the oath of allegiance to the Constitution.
Under the SCAM Act, such felons could be booted, no matter how much time has elapsed since naturalization. Mr. Schmitt isn’t opposed to letting good people in, he just wants to kick the bad ones out.
“Most naturalized citizens truly embrace this country. They honor their oath. They contribute to our communities. This bill isn’t about them. It’s about the shameless few who exploit American generosity — and about restoring integrity to the institution of citizenship,” he explained.
Such moves are necessary for the nation’s self-preservation.
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