A proposed constitutional amendment from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is drawing national attention after she called for expanding “natural-born citizen” requirements beyond the presidency to include members of Congress, federal judges, and Senate-confirmed officials.
The requirement currently applies only to the president and vice president under the U.S. Constitution.
Mace announced the joint resolution on Wednesday, arguing that individuals serving in high-level federal roles should meet the same citizenship standard already required for the nation’s top executive offices.
She said the effort is aimed at reinforcing loyalty expectations for those who help shape federal law and policy.
“If you hold power in the American government, you should be a natural born American citizen,” Mace said. “The people writing America’s laws, confirming America’s judges, and representing America on the world stage should have one loyalty: America. Not Somalia. Not any other country.”
Under the proposal, the natural-born requirement would extend to members of Congress, federal judges at all levels, ambassadors, and other Senate-confirmed officials.
If enacted, it would bar naturalized citizens from serving in those positions and extend eligibility standards beyond the executive branch.
Any amendment would still require approval by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures, The Hill reported.
Mace pointed to foreign-born members of Congress in making her case, specifically naming Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
She argued that naturalized citizens in senior federal roles raise concerns about divided loyalty, a claim that has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who say the proposal unfairly targets immigrants.
Jayapal, who was born in India and later became a U.S. citizen, strongly rejected the proposal, calling it discriminatory and inconsistent with America’s immigrant heritage.
“This narrow-minded, xenophobic legislation has no place in Congress,” Jayapal said, adding that her experience becoming a U.S. citizen remains central to her identity and public service.
She later called on her colleagues on X to “condemn” the proposal.
Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) also rejected Mace’s proposal, calling the congresswoman’s comments “shameful.”
“Instead of showing up for today’s House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Nancy Mace is spewing racist, xenophobic slop against members of Congress who were duly elected by the people of this country,” Dexter wrote on X.
Mace defended the amendment, saying it is intended to ensure federal officials “put America first,” and argued it would reinforce consistency in constitutional eligibility standards across the government.
She also said the proposal closes what she described as a gap between presidential requirements and other federal offices carrying national authority.
Her office further stated that the resolution seeks to standardize citizenship requirements across branches of government, particularly for roles involving national security, diplomacy, and judicial authority.
Supporters argue the proposal would strengthen trust in federal institutions by ensuring uniform eligibility standards for those holding national authority.
Critics counter it would exclude millions of naturalized citizens from public service roles they are currently eligible to hold under existing law, intensifying debate over immigration and political representation.
The proposal has sparked renewed discussion over immigration, citizenship, and eligibility for public office, with lawmakers and commentators divided over whether such a constitutional change is necessary or appropriate.
