H.R. 3442House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

DETER Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 6:44 AM UTC

The DETER Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to treat any non‑U.S. person who interferes with U.S. elections as inadmissible and removable. It creates a new definition of “improper interference” that covers illegal voting‑related conduct, actions taken on behalf of foreign governments or criminal groups, and covert or deceptive activities intended to undermine confidence in or change election outcomes. The bill applies to anyone seeking entry to the United States or already present in the country who engages in such conduct.

Key Provisions

Adds a definition of “improper interference in a United States election,” including violations of federal criminal, voting rights, or campaign finance laws, actions as an agent of a foreign government or criminal enterprise, and covert or deceptive acts aimed at undermining election confidence or altering results.
Makes any alien who is known or reasonably believed to be seeking admission to the United States to engage in improper election interference, or who has already done so, inadmissible.
Specifies that any alien who has engaged, is currently engaging, or later engages in improper election interference is deportable.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

July 30, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 24, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 24, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

July 30, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 24, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3442

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 24, 2019

Mr. Collins of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Chabot, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Steube, Mr. Cline, Mr. Armstrong, and Mr. Buck) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that aliens who engage in improper interference in a United States election are inadmissible and deportable, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Defending Elections against Trolls from Enemy Regimes Act or the DETER Act.

Defined term

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 performed by any person acting as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign government or criminal enterprise; and

(B)

includes any covert, fraudulent, deceptive, or unlawful act or attempted act, undertaken with the purpose or effect of undermining public confidence in election processes or institutions, or influencing, undermining confidence in, or altering the result or reported result of, a general or primary Federal, State, or local election or caucus, including—

(i)

the campaign of a candidate; or

(ii)

a ballot measure, including an amendment, a bond issue, an initiative, a recall, a referral, or a referendum.

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 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.