Cotton Demands Tougher Penalties and Deportation for Foreign Welfare Fraudsters

Foreign criminals scamming American taxpayers may soon face real consequences if Senator Tom Cotton has his way.

As welfare fraud investigations expand across blue states, the Arkansas Republican has introduced a bill that would slap convicted non-citizens with mandatory prison time and automatic deportation. The move comes amid a Trump-led federal crackdown on widespread fraud in Democrat strongholds like Minnesota and California with many cases involving foreign nationals abusing U.S. welfare programs.

“Migrants who steal Arkansas taxpayer dollars by committing fraud shouldn’t be let off with just a slap on the wrist,” Cotton said. “My bill will ensure these criminals face harsher consequences.”

The proposed legislation, the Welfare Fraud Deterrence and Recovery Act, includes key measures designed to punish and remove fraudsters who exploit America’s generosity:

• Minimum two-year prison sentence for non-citizens or naturalized citizens convicted of welfare fraud.

• Five-year minimum for theft exceeding $100,000.

• Automatic deportation for foreign nationals convicted of fraud.

• Denaturalization provisions to strip citizenship from those who lied to gain benefits.

• A new Fraud Recovery Task Force within the DOJ and HHS to accelerate prosecutions and recover stolen funds.

Cotton’s bill reflects growing frustration among conservatives over the abuse of taxpayer-funded welfare programs, particularly by migrants in states run by Democrat governors. The Trump administration recently froze funding for childcare, food, and social service programs in California, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, and Colorado, citing concerns that the programs are being exploited by non-citizens.

In Minnesota, the epicenter of several high-profile fraud rings, dozens of Somali migrants have already been charged with stealing millions in taxpayer funds. Last week, Vice President JD Vance announced the creation of a new Assistant Attorney General for Fraud, tasked with pursuing cases nationwide starting with Minnesota.

“The American people have been defrauded in a very nationwide way,” Vance stated. “We are going to make sure the bad guys are prosecuted swiftly and efficiently.”

These efforts come at a critical time. U.S. taxpayers fork over more than $1.2 trillion annually on welfare programs, yet weak oversight has made it far too easy for criminals including foreign nationals to siphon off funds. According to recent GAO estimates, improper payments across federal benefit programs exceeded $247 billion in just one year.

Cotton’s plan draws a hard line where it matters most: if you're not a U.S. citizen and you rob the American people, you lose your place in this country.

Democrats, predictably, have been silent unwilling to criticize fraud in their own backyards for fear of offending their activist base. But ordinary Americans are tired of footing the bill while foreign criminals abuse the system and walk free.

The question now is whether Congress has the courage to act, or whether the swamp will once again shield criminals in the name of “compassion.”

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