116th CONGRESS 1st Session |
June 4, 2019
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To designate foreign persons who improperly interfere in United States elections as inadmissible aliens, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Defending Elections against Trolls from Enemy Regimes Act” or “DETER Act”.
Section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(53) The term ‘improper interference in a United States election’ means conduct by an alien that—
“(A) (i) violates Federal criminal, voting rights, or campaign finance law; or
“(ii) is under the direction of a foreign government; and
“(B) interferes with a general or primary Federal, State, or local election or caucus, including—
“(i) the campaign of a candidate; and
“(ii) a ballot measure, including—
“(I) an amendment;
“(II) a bond issue;
“(III) an initiative;
“(IV) a recall;
“(V) a referral; and
“(VI) a referendum.”.
SEC. 3. Improper interference in United States elections.
(a) Inadmissibility.—Section 212(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(H) IMPROPER INTERFERENCE IN A UNITED STATES ELECTION.—Any alien who a consular officer, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, or the Attorney General knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe, is seeking admission to the United States to engage in improper interference in a United States election, or who has engaged in improper interference in a United States election, is inadmissible.”.
(b) Deportability.—Section 237(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(8) IMPROPER INTERFERENCE IN A UNITED STATES ELECTION.—Any alien who has engaged, is engaged, or at any time after admission engages in improper interference in a United States election is deportable.”.
Passed the Senate June 3, 2019.
Attest: | julie e. adams, |
Secretary |