Huizenga Introduces Deport the Terrorists Act

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) announced the introduction of the Deport the Terrorists Act. This landmark legislation would overhaul deportation proceedings for naturalized American citizens who are convicted of financing, materially supporting, or outright committing acts of terror.

"American citizenship is one of our nation's greatest privileges," said Congressman Bill Huizenga. "If a naturalized citizen is convicted of committing, supporting, or financing acts of terror, they should lose their citizenship and swiftly be deported from the United States."

Under current law, a naturalized citizen cannot be removed even for the most violent acts of terror without first going through the slow and complex denaturalization process. This loophole has allowed individuals who embraced terrorist ideologies after gaining citizenship to remain shielded from swift removal.

Examples of naturalized citizens who committed acts of terrorism include one that took place in Michigan and one that took place in Virginia 2026.

• Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, a naturalized citizen from Lebanon, carried out an attempted mass-casualty attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI, in March 2026, ramming his truck full of explosives into the synagogue and opening fire on congregants. He purposely targeted the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in MI due to his Hezbollah militant ideology. This individual was killed by security at Temple Israel.

• Mohamed Bilor Jalloh, a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone, became radicalized with ISIS views while serving in the US Army National Guard. In 2016, Jalloh pleaded guilty to attempting to aid ISIS fighters with money and weapons and was sentenced to 11 years in prison but was released early in 2024. On March 12, 2026, he shot and killed ROTC Professor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded two others at Old Dominion University in Virginia. This individual would have been deported under the Deport the Terrorists Act and unable to commit acts of terror in Virginia.

• Khalid Ouazzani, a naturalized citizen from Morocco, swore allegiance to Al-Qaida and sent tens of thousands of dollars to the terror organization in 2008. In May 2010, Ouazzani pleaded guilty to providing material support to Al-Qaida. In 2026, the DOJ started the denaturalization process. This individual would be deported under the Deport the Terrorists Act.

• Salah Osman Ahmed, a naturalized citizen from Somalia, traveled abroad to take up arms with al-Shabaab. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists. In 2026, the DOJ started the denaturalization process. This individual would be deported under the Deport the Terrorists Act.

The Deport the Terrorists Act automatically revokes the citizenship of any naturalized US citizen convicted of a terrorism-related offense and makes such individuals immediately removable by creating new grounds for deportation for convictions involving terrorism, including conspiracy and solicitation.

Lastly, the Deport the Terrorists Act directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the removal of any individual whose citizenship is revoked due to a terrorism-related conviction.