H.R. 1958, known as the Fraudulent Removal Act of 2026, passed the House of Representatives on Monday with bipartisan support.

The House approved the bill by a vote of 231 to 186, sending it to the Senate. All dissenting votes came from Democrats. While 211 Republican members voted in favor with no opposition, 20 Democratic members also supported the bill.

The bill stipulates that non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) convicted of or admitting to defrauding the U.S. government or illegally receiving public benefits will be denied entry or deported.

Aliens under federal law include lawful permanent residents and any foreign national temporarily residing in the U.S. with a valid visa.

Specifically, fraudulent acts related to federal, state, or local government benefits such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Social Security, and Medicaid are defined as deportable offenses.

Individuals subject to this bill will be ineligible for immigration relief benefits, such as protections under the Convention Against Torture.

The bill also includes provisions from the Social Security Fraud Act, which classifies identity fraud as a deportable offense.

Proponents of the bill argue that it protects taxpayer money and closes loopholes by explicitly defining welfare fraud as a ground for deportation.

Conversely, critics, including some Democratic lawmakers and the human rights advocacy group CHN, contend that the bill expands the authority to deport individuals without a criminal conviction and could disadvantage individuals due to complex administrative errors.

NNP Chief Reporter Hong Sung-goo / Special Contributor to this publication NNP info@newsandpost.com