S. 1328 – DETER Act | Legislate.dev

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:56 AM UTC

The DETER Act creates new immigration consequences for foreign nationals who improperly interfere in U.S. elections. It adds a definition of "improper interference" that covers illegal voting‑related conduct or actions directed by a foreign government that affect any federal, state, local election or ballot measure. The bill makes such individuals inadmissible when they try to enter the United States and deportable if they are already present.

Key Provisions

Adds a definition of “improper interference in a United States election” to the Immigration and Nationality Act, covering violations of criminal, voting‑rights, or campaign‑finance law, or actions directed by a foreign government that affect elections or ballot measures.
Amends the inadmissibility ground (Section 212(a)(3)(H)) to bar any alien known or believed to be seeking entry to engage in, or who has engaged in, improper election interference.
Amends the deportability ground (Section 237(a)(8)) to allow removal of any alien who has engaged, is engaging, or later engages in improper election interference.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

9 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

June 26, 2019

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 6, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

May 6, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Judiciary Committee

May 16, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham without amendment. Without written report.

Judiciary Committee

May 22, 2019

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 96.

May 22, 2019

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3169; text: CR S3169)

June 3, 2019

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

June 4, 2019

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

June 4, 2019 • 12:19 PM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 4, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

June 26, 2019

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 1328 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Jun 3, 2019

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 96, S. 1328. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and…

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · May 6, 2019

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · May 6, 2019

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

4 versions available

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Referred in HouseIssued June 4, 2019

IC

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1328

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 4, 2019

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

AN ACT

To designate foreign persons who improperly interfere in United States elections as inadmissible aliens, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

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

2.

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 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.

.

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.

Julie E. Adams,

Secretary