Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would set a 25-year moratorium on immigration from Somalia, citing a failure to assimilate in the United States as well as the rampant abuse of federal benefits programs and fraud.
“Mass Somali immigration makes the United States weaker, poorer and erodes social trust,” Gill said in a written statement to Breitbart News about his legislation, the Somalia Immigration Moratorium Act.
“The sole aim of our immigration system is to benefit American citizens, not facilitate mass migration from corrupt, failed societies. 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.”
Gill introduced his legislation to amend section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to bar immigration relief for certain citizens of Somalia for 25 years, while preserving existing lawful status and American treaty obligations. The legislation would be consistent with President Donald Trump’s Proclamation 10998, Proclamation 10949, and Executive Order 13769. The legislation would codify Trump’s Proclamation 10998.
The moratorium would not apply to those in the country before the enactment of the legislation, lawful permanent residents, and diplomatic or international organization visas.
More than 70 million immigrants have come to the United States since the enactment of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act.
