Washington, D.C. – A growing chorus of conservatives is pushing to amend the Constitution to require natural-born citizenship for members of Congress, mirroring the long-standing mandate for the presidency. “The law already requires that the president be American-born, and I think it’s high time we change the law so that members of Congress must also be American-born,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., declared Thursday, introducing Senate Joint Resolution 45 to extend the Article II qualification to lawmakers.
The proposal, co-sponsored by Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., would bar naturalized citizens from House or Senate seats, arguing that foreign-born politicians pose risks to national loyalty. Blackburn cited recent elections, including New York City’s Zohran Mamdani, a naturalized citizen from Uganda, as a “wake-up call.” “We can’t have foreign influences crafting our laws,” she said, referencing 14 current foreign-born members like Sens. Tammy Duckworth (Thailand-born) and Mazie Hirono (Japan-born). The bill demands two-thirds congressional approval and three-fourths state ratification—a steep climb, but one gaining traction amid Trump’s deportation surge of 2.1 million.
Proponents, backed by the Heritage Foundation, claim it safeguards against “dual loyalties,” pointing to historical fears of foreign intrigue. A Rasmussen poll shows 55% Republican support, with 62% overall favoring stricter qualifications. “America First starts at home,” Ogles argued, tying it to first-term debates over Arnold Schwarzenegger’s barred presidential run.
Critics slammed it as xenophobic overkill. “This erases the immigrant dream that built America,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a naturalized Indian-born citizen, retorted, noting the Founders welcomed talents like Alexander Hamilton, born in the Caribbean. The ACLU vowed lawsuits, arguing it violates equal protection and the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship. Legal scholars like those at the Congressional Research Service warn it could disenfranchise 14 sitting members.
As midterms ballots drop and the 36-day shutdown freezes SNAP for 42 million, the nativist push tests assimilation’s limits: Patriotism’s proof or prejudice codified? For naturalized lawmakers, it’s personal; for the nation, a founding rewrite.
