Washington, D.C. – A group of House Republicans, led by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), introduced legislation Tuesday to amend the Constitution, mandating that all members of Congress be natural-born U.S. citizens, mirroring the presidency’s eligibility clause. The move, dubbed the “American-Born Congressional Act,” reignites a fiery debate over nativism and representation in an increasingly polarized America.
Boebert, speaking at a Capitol press conference, framed the bill as a safeguard for national loyalty, citing recent controversies surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a Somali-born naturalized citizen whose planned trip to Somalia sparked GOP calls for her deportation. “If the president must be born here to defend our Constitution, so should those writing our laws,” Boebert declared, flanked by Reps. Matt Gaetz and Paul Gosar. The proposal would bar naturalized citizens – like Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and nearly 30 other current lawmakers – from serving in Congress, a restriction supporters argue aligns with the Founding Fathers’ intent to prevent foreign influence.
The bill faces steep hurdles: amending the Constitution requires two-thirds approval in both chambers and ratification by 38 states. Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, slammed it as “xenophobic grandstanding” targeting immigrant lawmakers who’ve enriched Congress since the 19th century. “This is a distraction from real issues like jobs and healthcare,” Jeffries said, noting Article I already sets minimal congressional requirements: age, residency, and citizenship. Legal scholars, including Georgetown’s Neal Katyal, argue the measure violates equal protection principles, predicting swift court challenges.
Fueling the push is President Trump’s renewed focus on “America First” purity, with aides like Stephen Miller praising the bill as a bulwark against “globalist agendas.” Yet, critics warn it alienates immigrant communities and risks backfiring in a diversifying nation. As midterms loom, the proposal underscores a GOP betting on nativist fervor, even as it deepens divides over who belongs in America’s halls of power.
