Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) last week introduced a proposed constitutional amendment that would dramatically alter eligibility requirements for several federal positions, limiting them exclusively to natural-born American citizens. The amendment seeks to bar foreign-born Americans from serving in Congress, federal judgeships, and Senate-confirmed executive branch roles. The proposal has drawn swift reaction, particularly from Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), one of the individuals specifically highlighted by Mace.
"If you hold power in the American government, you should be a natural-born American citizen." — Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)
Currently, the U.S. Constitution mandates that only presidents and vice presidents must be natural-born citizens. Members of Congress, federal judges, and cabinet officials are permitted to serve as long as they meet established citizenship and residency requirements. Mace, however, contends that these criteria are insufficient for positions of power within the American government.
"If you hold power in the American government, you should be a natural-born American citizen," Mace stated in a press release. She added, "For too long we have allowed foreign-born members to hold seats in this government, while making clear their loyalty is not here. We see it every day."
In promoting her amendment online, Mace explicitly named Representative Omar, alongside fellow Democratic Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Shri Thanedar (D-MI), all of whom were born outside the United States. Mace posted on X, "Ilhan Omar. Shri Thanedar. Pramila Jayapal. All born in foreign countries, none were citizens by birth. All sitting in the United States Congress. All making clear every single day their loyalty is not to America."
Representative Omar, who was born in Somalia and became a naturalized American citizen in 2000, appeared unfazed by the proposal when questioned about it last week. "Good luck to her," Omar told Fox News Digital, dismissing the effort.
This latest development marks another chapter in the ongoing political friction between Mace and Omar. Earlier this year, Mace led an unsuccessful effort to secure a House Oversight Committee subpoena related to unverified allegations concerning Omar's marriage history, including claims that Omar married her brother for immigration purposes. These allegations have circulated in conservative media for years but have not resulted in criminal charges or publicly confirmed findings.
Mace's proposed amendment surfaces at a politically charged time for Representative Omar. Last week, during a White House press briefing, Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that the Department of Justice is reviewing matters related to Omar’s immigration history and finances, as reported by the New York Post. "So we’re going to investigate it, we’re going to take a look at it," Vice President Vance said at the time. "If we think there’s a crime, we’re going to prosecute that crime."
Representative Omar vehemently denied these claims, telling Fox News Digital, "That is not something that is happening. That man is delusional."
The process for amending the U.S. Constitution is exceptionally rigorous, requiring a two-thirds vote of approval in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Following congressional approval, the proposed amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states, totaling 38 states. This high threshold makes constitutional amendments extraordinarily difficult to achieve in modern American politics. The last successful constitutional amendment, the 27th Amendment concerning congressional pay changes, was ratified in 1992 after a process that spanned over two centuries.
Given these procedural hurdles, the proposed amendment faces nearly impossible political odds of passage. Nevertheless, the introduction of the amendment ensures that Representative Omar will remain a prominent political target for Republicans as the nation approaches the 2026 midterm elections. The controversy surrounding Omar continues to unfold amidst broader Republican criticisms involving immigration, loyalty, alleged fraud connections, and the "Feeding Our Future" scandal that has impacted Minnesota politics in recent years.
