Naturalized citizens currently serving in Congress, on federal courts, or in Senate-confirmed positions, as well as future naturalized citizens seeking these offices.

Amendment would bar naturalized citizens from Congress, courts, top posts

In committeeH.J.Res. 188Latest action May 20, 2026

Sponsor: Nancy Mace · Representative · SC

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record

Read the official text

Official title: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that certain individuals are natural born citizens.

119th Congress

Topics: Immigration

Introduced: May 20, 2026

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

In plain words

The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.

The amendment would require Congress members, federal judges, and officials to be natural born citizens, barring naturalized citizens.

40-second read · 4 questions answered below

What does this do?

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Representatives, Senators, federal judges, and officers to be natural born citizens rather than naturalized citizens. Currently only the president and vice president face this requirement; others need only be citizens, sometimes with a minimum number of years. Naturalized citizens would be permanently barred from these roles.

Who does it affect?

Naturalized citizens currently serving in Congress, on federal courts, or in positions, as well as future naturalized citizens seeking these offices.

Why does it matter?

Existing officeholders who are naturalized citizens would lose eligibility once their current terms end. As a constitutional amendment, it requires two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years.

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Read the official bill on Congress.gov

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Where does it stand?

IntroducedMay 20, 2026
House committeeYou are here · May 20, 2026
House vote
Senate
Sent to the states

Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House. Both chambers have to pass the same text, each by two thirds. A proposed constitutional amendment never goes to the president: it goes to the states, and three quarters of them have to ratify it before it takes effect.

Latest action: May 20, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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How it's being covered

Coverage of this bill from across the press. Each outlet's political lean is labeled where AllSides has rated it, and marked "Not rated" where it has not.

Newest of these articles: May 25, 2026

Coverage of this bill so far comes from one side of the spectrum. Read it with that in mind.

foxnews.com
Leans right
Omar confronted on camera over GOP proposal targeting foreign-born lawmakers: ‘Good luck to her’
May 25, 2026
“Rep. Ilhan Omar says she is unbothered by Rep. Nancy Mace's proposed constitutional amendment that would bar foreign-born individuals from serving in Congress.” — foxnews.com
nypost.com
Leans right
Ilhan Omar brushes off proposal that could see her banned from Congress
May 25, 2026
“Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., appeared unbothered when asked about the newly proposed GOP resolution barring anyone foreign-born from serving in Congress.” — nypost.com
westernjournal.com
Leans right
Nancy Mace Proposes Amendment to Ban Foreign-Born Politicians from Serving in Congress
May 22, 2026
“Republican Rep. Nancy Mace wants to ensure the United States Constitution does not allow foreign-born government officials.” — westernjournal.com
redstate.com
Leans right
America First Victory? Proposed New Amendment Bars Foreign-Born from Power
May 21, 2026
“There's one way to slam the door on a political issue in the United States: Pass and ratify an amend” — redstate.com

Lean labels describe the news outlet, not this bill or any party. Ratings by AllSides.