A new House bill would suspend immigration relief for Somali nationals for a quarter century while preserving existing legal status and treaty obligations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Rep. Brandon Gill, a Texas Republican, introduced legislation Tuesday that would impose a 25-year moratorium on immigration from Somalia, arguing that large-scale Somali immigration has failed to assimilate into American society and has been linked to widespread abuse of federal benefits programs, according to reporting by Breitbart News.
Gill said his proposal, titled the Somalia Immigration Moratorium Act, is intended to realign U.S. immigration policy with what he described as national security, fiscal responsibility and the interests of American citizens. In a written statement, Gill said, “Mass Somali immigration makes the United States weaker, poorer and erodes social trust.”
“The sole aim of our immigration system is to benefit American citizens, not facilitate mass migration from corrupt, failed societies,” Gill said. “The recent fraud scandal in Minnesota highlights the acute dangers of unchecked immigration. A Somalia immigration moratorium puts the American people first, restores our national sovereignty, protects taxpayers and supports public safety.”
The legislation would amend Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to bar immigration relief for certain Somali nationals for 25 years. The bill explicitly preserves existing lawful status for Somalis already in the United States and does not affect lawful permanent residents, individuals present before enactment, or those holding diplomatic or international organization visas.
Gill’s proposal is designed to codify President Donald Trump’s Proclamation 10998 and aligns with other Trump-era actions, including Proclamation 10949 and Executive Order 13769. Supporters of the bill say it would formalize executive authority into statute.
The proposal comes amid broader scrutiny of immigration levels since the passage of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, under which more than 70 million immigrants have entered the United States.
Somali immigration has drawn particular attention due to high-profile fraud cases and heavy reliance on public assistance programs. In Minnesota, roughly $9 billion in alleged fraud involving members of the Somali community has been cited by federal and state authorities, placing the issue at the center of national debate.
Data cited in support of the legislation indicate that a significant share of Somali immigrant households receive government assistance. According to figures from the Center for Immigration Studies, 81 percent of Somali immigrant households are on welfare, 73 percent receive Medicaid, and 54 percent participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.
Gill said pausing immigration from Somalia would allow policymakers to reassess long-term impacts and recalibrate immigration policy to better reflect what he described as national interest priorities.
The bill follows recent executive action by the Trump administration. In mid-January, the administration moved to end Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Somali nationals living in the United States.
“Temporary means temporary. Country conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law’s requirement for Temporary Protected Status,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement at the time.
“Further, allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests. We are putting Americans first,” she added.
Gill’s legislation has been referred for further consideration and would require congressional approval to take effect.
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