Senator Schmitt Renews Push for SCAM Act Following Violent Attacks Involving Naturalized Citizens

Senator Eric Schmitt renews his push for the SCAM Act, seeking to expand the government's ability to denaturalize citizens following recent acts of violence.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 5:28 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Fox News

Legislative Response to Recent Violence

Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) called for the immediate expansion of federal denaturalization powers on Thursday, citing a series of violent incidents as evidence that the current legal framework is insufficient. The proposed SCAM Act would streamline the process for stripping citizenship from individuals who commit serious felonies, engage in large-scale fraud, or affiliate with terrorist organizations and drug cartels. Schmitt argued that American citizenship is a "great honor" that requires a sincere attachment to the Constitution—a standard he claims was clearly violated by the perpetrators of recent attacks in Michigan and Virginia.

Profiles of Recent Incidents

The Senator’s renewed focus follows several tragic events that occurred in early March 2026:

Michigan Synagogue Attack: Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old naturalized citizen originally from Lebanon, was killed by security after ramming his vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township. Ghazali had been a citizen since 2016.

Old Dominion University Shooting: Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone and former National Guard member, opened fire in a classroom, killing one and wounding two others. Jalloh, an ISIS supporter previously convicted of attempting to provide material support to the group, was also killed in the incident.