Sen. Cornyn:“The rampant and unprecedented fraud uncovered in Minnesota involving Somali-run childcare centers and nonprofits is unconscionable, and Governor Walz’s complete deflection of any responsibility for this massive theft of U.S. taxpayer dollars under his watch is cowardly but unsurprising.”
Texas Insider Report: Austin, Texas – (MCALLEN) – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Ted Budd (R-NC), in introducing the Fraud Accountability Act, which would explicitly add fraud as a deportable offense under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The bill would also make clear that any person who commits a deportable offense, now explicitly including fraud, would be subject to denaturalization.
“The rampant and unprecedented fraud uncovered in Minnesota involving Somali-run childcare centers and nonprofits is unconscionable, and Governor Walz’s complete deflection of any responsibility for this massive theft of U.S. taxpayer dollars under his watch is cowardly but unsurprising,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Anyone who attempts to get rich at the expense of American taxpayers should be ashamed and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Blackburn to ensure any illegal alien who is convicted of fraud faces swift deportation for their flagrant abuse of taxpayer funds.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is leading the legislation in the Senate, and Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-1) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
Background:
Federal prosecutors allege that the total amount of stolen taxpayer dollars in Minnesota could exceed $9 billion. Under Governor Walz’s watch, front groups that pretended to provide social services stole billions of taxpayer dollars. In 2024, the Biden administration scrapped a rule that required child care centers to verify that kids actually attended their facilities to receive federal funding. The fraud extends far beyond Minnesota, which is why President Trump froze more than $10 billion in federal grants in five states following serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs. Texas Governor Greg Abbott this week directed Texas state agencies to investigate any potential child care funding fraud taking place in the Lone Star State.
The Fraud Accountability Act would:
Federal prosecutors allege that the total amount of stolen taxpayer dollars in Minnesota could exceed $9 billion. Under Governor Walz’s watch, front groups that pretended to provide social services stole billions of taxpayer dollars. In 2024, the Biden administration scrapped a rule that required child care centers to verify that kids actually attended their facilities to receive federal funding. The fraud extends far beyond Minnesota, which is why President Trump froze more than $10 billion in federal grants in five states following serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs. Texas Governor Greg Abbott this week directed Texas state agencies to investigate any potential child care funding fraud taking place in the Lone Star State.
The Fraud Accountability Act would:
-
Amend the INA to explicitly add any crime of fraud—of any amount—committed against private individuals, funds, corporations, or government entities as a deportable offense; and
-
Revoke the naturalization of those who commit a crime of fraud or any other deportable offense.
