This bill, titled the "DEPORT Act of 2026," significantly amends the Immigration and Nationality Act by introducing a new requirement for naturalization applicants. As a condition of naturalization, each applicant must execute a sworn attestation, under penalty of perjury, affirming they have not been convicted of or had charges pending for any specified "covered offense" at the time of application or oath, and do not intend to commit such offenses in the future. The Secretary of Homeland Security is mandated to revise the naturalization application form (N-400) to include this attestation, listing each covered offense individually, and the oath of allegiance must include an express renunciation of intent to engage in these offenses. The legislation defines "covered offenses" to include a broad range of Federal crimes of terrorism , such as providing material support to terrorists, financing terrorism, using weapons of mass destruction, and various acts of violence against infrastructure or people. For individuals naturalized prior to this attestation requirement, a conviction or credible evidence of terrorism-related conduct within 10 years of naturalization will constitute prima facie evidence that citizenship was illegally procured. For those who execute the new attestation, a subsequent conviction for a covered offense creates a rebuttable presumption that the attestation was false, either regarding past conduct or future intent, placing a high burden on the defendant to prove otherwise. Upon denaturalization under these provisions, individuals become immediately deportable and subject to removal proceedings, with no statute of limitations for such proceedings. The bill also makes anyone convicted of a covered offense inadmissible to the United States and ineligible for any immigration benefit, including adjustment of status, relief from removal, or temporary protected status. All existing immigration benefits or statuses, including lawful permanent residency, will be revoked upon a final order of removal or denaturalization, and no waivers of inadmissibility or deportability will be available for these terrorism-related grounds, establishing a permanent bar to admission for such offenders.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
DEPORT Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-8341| House
| Updated: 4/16/2026
This bill, titled the "DEPORT Act of 2026," significantly amends the Immigration and Nationality Act by introducing a new requirement for naturalization applicants. As a condition of naturalization, each applicant must execute a sworn attestation, under penalty of perjury, affirming they have not been convicted of or had charges pending for any specified "covered offense" at the time of application or oath, and do not intend to commit such offenses in the future. The Secretary of Homeland Security is mandated to revise the naturalization application form (N-400) to include this attestation, listing each covered offense individually, and the oath of allegiance must include an express renunciation of intent to engage in these offenses. The legislation defines "covered offenses" to include a broad range of Federal crimes of terrorism , such as providing material support to terrorists, financing terrorism, using weapons of mass destruction, and various acts of violence against infrastructure or people. For individuals naturalized prior to this attestation requirement, a conviction or credible evidence of terrorism-related conduct within 10 years of naturalization will constitute prima facie evidence that citizenship was illegally procured. For those who execute the new attestation, a subsequent conviction for a covered offense creates a rebuttable presumption that the attestation was false, either regarding past conduct or future intent, placing a high burden on the defendant to prove otherwise. Upon denaturalization under these provisions, individuals become immediately deportable and subject to removal proceedings, with no statute of limitations for such proceedings. The bill also makes anyone convicted of a covered offense inadmissible to the United States and ineligible for any immigration benefit, including adjustment of status, relief from removal, or temporary protected status. All existing immigration benefits or statuses, including lawful permanent residency, will be revoked upon a final order of removal or denaturalization, and no waivers of inadmissibility or deportability will be available for these terrorism-related grounds, establishing a permanent bar to admission for such offenders.