Is birthright citizenship over? What you need to know
Several courts have issued decisions regarding birthright citizenship. where is it now? Here’s what you need to know
U.S. Representative Nancy Mace is calling for a ban on naturalized Americans from serving in Congress or other federal government positions.
Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, announced legislation aimed at barring foreign-born Americans from becoming federal judges or being appointed to Senate-confirmed positions. Mace, 48, said he would push for a “long-overdue joint resolution” to amend the constitution.
“This is exactly the same standard that the president and vice president are already required to meet,” Mace said in a May 20 X post, proposing a constitutional amendment to ban the ban. “The people who write America’s laws, certify America’s judges, and represent America on the world stage must have one loyalty: America, not any other country.”
Mace’s push comes after President Donald Trump in February directed federal agencies not to recognize citizenship for infants born in the United States if neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident, and several courts across the country have ruled on birthright citizenship.
On May 21, the Supreme Court continued to roll out its rulings from this term, including in the dispute over President Trump’s order and transgender athletes.
Earlier this year, the president predicted that judges would also strike down his efforts to sharply limit who can automatically become a U.S. citizen.
In his post, Mace targeted three current U.S. members of Congress who were born outside the United States. Ilhan Omar is a Somali-born Democratic Congressman from Minnesota. Shri Taneda, an Indian-born Democrat from Michigan. and Pramila Jayapal, an Indian-born Washington Democrat.
“All were foreign-born and not citizens by birth. All serve in the United States Congress,” she wrote. “Everyone makes it clear every day that their loyalty is not to America.”
Lawmakers oppose Nancy Mace’s constitutional amendment bill
On May 20, Jayapal criticized Mace’s proposal, calling it “a racist bill that denies the very history of this country, which has been proudly shaped by immigrants.”
“This is also an insult to the hundreds of thousands of voters who elected naturalized people to office,” Jayapal said in a statement. “This bigoted and xenophobic bill has no place in Congress, and I call on all of my colleagues, including my naturalized Republican colleagues, to condemn it.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Omar and Saneda’s offices.
Who is Nancy Mace?
Mace became the first Republican woman elected from South Carolina in 2021.
She criticized President Trump over the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot before becoming one of his closest allies.
Mace began his campaign for governor in August.
Republican opponents in the June 9 primary include Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, state Sen. Josh Kimbrel, businessman Rom Reddy and Jacqueline Hicks DuBose.
State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, Richland and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod and former Bill Clinton staffer Billy Webster are running in the Democratic primary, USA TODAY Network’s Greenville News reported.
The general election will be held on November 3rd.
Contributor: Bella Carpentier, Greenville News
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
