Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace is facing backlash after introducing a constitutional amendment proposal that would restrict top government positions to people born in the United States.
The proposal, announced Wednesday, quickly sparked criticism from Democrats, who described it as divisive and politically motivated. Critics argued the move unfairly targets immigrant lawmakers and promotes exclusionary politics.
In a post shared on social media, Mace said she had introduced what she called a “long-overdue joint resolution” aimed at requiring U.S.-born citizenship for individuals serving in positions of power. She argued that the same standard already applies to the president and vice president under the Constitution.
Mace’s post included images of Democratic lawmakers Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar. Omar was born in Somalia, while Jayapal and Thanedar were born in India before becoming U.S. citizens.
“This is not complicated,” Mace wrote. “The people writing America’s laws, confirming America’s judges, and representing America on the world stage should have one loyalty — America.”
While the proposal appears aimed at several Democratic lawmakers, it could also impact more than a dozen members of Congress from both parties who were born outside the United States.
Democrats condemned the proposal as inflammatory, warning that it risks fueling anti-immigrant sentiment during an already tense political climate ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
