Tennessee Senator Demands Immigration Law Amendments to Punish All Fraud and Threaten Citizenship

Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn announced on Tuesday her intention to amend federal immigration law by making all fraud committed against U.S. taxpayers and government a deportable offense or grounds for denaturalization of naturalized citizens.

Speaking during an interview, Blackburn explained the proposed changes would consolidate what she called “scattered portions of fraud” in current legislation. She stressed that existing laws do not explicitly treat all fraudulent activity—including amounts below $10,000—as qualifying for deportation or loss of citizenship. The measure would also impact detention procedures and judicial oversight, allowing individuals to be held pending hearing and enabling any federal court—not just immigration courts—to adjudicate such cases.

Blackburn linked the initiative to recent reports in Minnesota involving billions of dollars in fraudulent activity across government programs including daycare centers, elder care facilities, healthcare systems, and other public services. She referenced a lawsuit filed by Minnesota against the federal government over an influx of immigration officers in the state, labeling the situation “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Blackburn also highlighted ICE’s apprehension of violent offenders with criminal histories involving child sexual assault, molestation, aggravated assault, murder, and rape.

On Capitol Hill, Blackburn asserted that lawmakers would prevent a government shutdown by passing spending bills ahead of the end of the week. “We will not have another shutdown,” she stated, noting the House had already passed a three-bill omnibus package and the Senate was expected to follow with its own legislation. Blackburn added that upcoming spending bills would reset federal budgets from prior levels, moving the country “off of a Biden budget and onto a Trump budget.”