Mace Drops Bill to Block ‘Paperwork Americans’ from Office
Rep. Nancy Mace ignited another firestorm on Capitol Hill this week after introducing a constitutional amendment that would bar naturalized U.S. citizens from serving in Congress, holding Senate-confirmed federal positions, or becoming federal judges.
The South Carolina Republican announced the proposal Wednesday while directly targeting several high-profile progressive Democrats born outside the United States, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Shri Thanedar of Illinois, and Pramila Jayapal of Washington.
“All born in foreign countries, none were citizens by birth,” Mace said during the rollout of the legislation. “All sitting in the United States Congress. All making clear every single day their loyalty is not to America.”
Mace argued that lawmakers and senior federal officials should be held to the same constitutional standard already imposed on presidents and vice presidents, both of whom must be natural-born citizens under the Constitution.
“The people writing America’s laws, confirming America’s judges, and representing America on the world stage should have one loyalty: America. Not any other country,” she said.
“For too long we have allowed foreign-born members to hold seats in this government while making clear they are America last, not America first.”
The proposed amendment would dramatically reshape eligibility requirements for federal office if enacted. Under Mace’s resolution, naturalized citizens would be prohibited from serving in the House, Senate, federal judiciary, and top executive branch positions requiring Senate confirmation.
The proposal faces enormous constitutional hurdles. Any amendment would require approval by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress before being ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, a threshold few controversial measures ever reach.
Still, the legislation immediately triggered fierce reactions from Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups, who accused Mace of targeting immigrants and promoting exclusionary politics.
Pramila Jayapal, who immigrated from India and became a U.S. citizen in 2000, blasted the amendment as “xenophobic” and “racist.”
“Instead of working to help the American people, as so many cannot keep the lights on, keep food on the table, or pay their rent, Nancy Mace is instead introducing racist legislation that denies the very history of a country that has been proudly shaped by immigrants,” Jayapal said in a statement.
“With the exception of Native Americans, every person in this country — including Nancy Mace — is descended from immigrants,” she added.
Shri Thanedar responded with mockery instead of a formal rebuttal. In a post on X, the Michigan businessman-turned-congressman took aim at Mace personally, referencing past controversies involving the South Carolina lawmaker.
“I’m introducing a resolution to ban congressmembers who make their staff vote for them as the ‘Hottest’ Woman in Congress from holding office,” Thanedar wrote.
“Get your drinking problem fixed before coming for those of us who worked hard to come here and contribute.”
Ilhan Omar, born in Somalia and naturalized in 2000, did not publicly respond following the announcement.
The proposal lands at a time when questions surrounding nationalism, immigration, and political loyalty continue dominating national politics. Mace and other Republicans have increasingly accused certain progressive lawmakers of placing ideological activism or foreign policy sympathies above American national interests, particularly regarding border enforcement, anti-Israel protests, and international conflicts.
Supporters of the amendment argue the United States already applies stricter eligibility rules to the presidency and that extending similar standards to lawmakers and judges is a reasonable constitutional safeguard.
Critics counter that naturalized citizens swear allegiance to the United States just like native-born Americans and point out that immigrants have served in Congress for generations without constitutional controversy.