The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a legislative measure to prevent illegal aliens from committing welfare fraud as the majority of House Democrats voted against the resolution, including all of Florida's House Democratic Caucus.
The bill, the Deporting Fraudsters Act (H.R. 1958), passed by a vote count of 231-186.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Taylor, R-Ohio, would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to explicitly define fraud as a deportable offense. Republicans said the legislation is necessary to ensure that noncitizens who steal taxpayer dollars are no longer eligible for immigration relief services or legal protections.
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.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R) was the only Republican who didn't vote on the illegal immigration bill.
House Democrats who voted against the anti-lllegal alien welfare fraud measure are:
Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Frederica Wilson, Maxwell Frost, Jared Moskowitz, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Darren Soto, and Kathy Castor.
A total of 20 House Democrats cross the aisle and voted with Republicanss.
