The Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation Act (SCAM Act) expands the government's ability to strip naturalized U.S. citizens of their citizenship through civil denaturalization proceedings. The bill allows the Attorney General to pursue denaturalization against naturalized citizens who, within 10 years of becoming citizens, commit fraud against federal, state, local, or tribal governments involving at least $10,000; affiliate with foreign terrorist organizations; or commit aggravated felonies or espionage offenses. The law treats these actions as automatic evidence that the person lacked good moral character and attachment to the Constitution at the time of naturalization, effectively reversing the burden of proof. Once denaturalization occurs, it takes retroactive effect—meaning citizenship is treated as void from the original date it was granted—and the individual becomes subject to immediate removal proceedings. The bill includes a fallback provision reducing the relevant timeframe from 10 years to 5 years if courts find the 10-year period unconstitutional.
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