This video clip shared on X features Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) speaking during a House Judiciary Committee markup hearing on January 13, 2026.
🚨 HOLY CRAP. House Democrats just attempted to change a bill that would've allowed illegal alien fraudsters to remain in the US *PERMANENTLY.*
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 13, 2026
Read that again. They filed to keep fraudster aliens here, so they can keep stealing.
They must NEVER achieve power again. Betrayal. pic.twitter.com/hYoICYII26
In the clip, McClintock is addressing a Democratic–proposed amendment to H.R. 1958, the Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2025. This bill, introduced by Rep. David Taylor (R-OH) in March 2025, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make non-citizens (aliens) inadmissible to the U.S. and deportable if they have:
- Been convicted of defrauding the U.S. government,
- Unlawfully received public benefits (such as SNAP/food stamps, Social Security, or other federal, state, or local programs), or
- Committed acts involving such fraud or benefit theft.
Dems changed Bill to allow criminals to remain
House Democrats attempted to change a bill that would’ve allowed illegal alien fraudsters to remain in the US permanently. They filed to keep fraudster aliens here, presumably so they can keep stealing and voting.
The key focus of McClintock’s remarks is his strong opposition to the amendment, which sought to remove or weaken the provision allowing deportation based on mere admission of fraud (even without a formal criminal conviction). He argues that accepting the amendment would effectively let individuals who admit to defrauding American taxpayers or stealing benefits remain in the country indefinitely, undermining the bill’s purpose of holding accountable those who abuse U.S. generosity through fraud or theft.
The markup session considered multiple immigration and related bills, and H.R. 1958 ultimately advanced out of the committee on a party-line vote of 15-11. The full hearing was led by Chairman Jim Jordan, highlighting Republican priorities on immigration enforcement and benefit integrity.
This clip captures a typical moment of highly partisan debate in the committee, with McClintock emphasizing the need for strict consequences to protect taxpayer-funded programs from abuse by non-citizens.
The bill remains in the legislative process, with a Senate companion version (S. 3113) introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz and others in late 2025.