A United States lawmaker, Nancy Mace, has announced plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit immigration from Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, citing national security concerns.
Mace, a Republican representing South Carolina, disclosed the proposal in a statement published on her official website on Wednesday, describing the three African nations as among the world’s most unstable countries.
According to the congresswoman, the proposed legislation is intended to protect American communities from what she called security threats linked to the affected nations.
“Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) announced her plans to introduce legislation to ban immigration from Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, protecting American communities from the instability and security threats these nations bring,” the statement read.
Mace argued that the United States should prioritise the safety of its citizens over the interests of foreign nationals.
She further described Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan as some of the world’s most dangerous and unstable countries, insisting that the U.S. should avoid repeating what she characterised as the immigration mistakes made by several European nations.
The proposed bill is expected to spark debate over U.S. immigration policy, national security, and America’s humanitarian commitments to people fleeing conflict and instability.