U.S. News
New Bill Could Permanently Ban Millions from U.S. Citizenship
By Jake Beardslee · March 29, 2025
Republican Bill Seeks Lifetime Citizenship Ban for Undocumented Immigrants
In a new legislative push that could dramatically reshape American immigration policy, four Republican members of the House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would permanently bar undocumented immigrants from ever obtaining U.S. citizenship. JoshuaWoroniecki / Pixabay
Rep. Mills Leads GOP Push on Immigration Reform
Florida Representative Cory Mills spearheaded the legislation, titled the No Citizenship for Alien Invaders Act, on Thursday. The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Andy Harris of Maryland, and Anna Paulina Luna of Florida. Library of Congress / Wikimedia
Proposal Aligns With Trump-Era Immigration Crackdown
This proposal arrives as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration that has defined the Trump administration’s policies. The administration has intensified diplomatic pressure on foreign nations, including long-standing allies, in a bid to curb the flow of undocumented migrants. The White House / Wikimedia
U.S. Embassies Launch Global Visa Warning Campaign
In tandem with these legislative efforts, a high-profile international media campaign is being waged. U.S. embassies worldwide have published social media messages, including warnings on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the consequences of violating visa terms. Nataliya Vaitkevich / Pexels
“Don’t Even Think About It”: Kristi Noem's Warning in U.S. Embassy Message
One such message was posted by the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia, featuring a stern video message from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who says, “If you are considering entering America illegally, don’t even think about it.” Text accompanying the video adds, “Now, if you are in this country to promote Hamas, to promote terrorist organizations, to participate in vandalism, to participate in acts of rebellion and riots on campus, we never would have let you in if we had known that. You lied to us. You’re out.” Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Countries Warn Citizens About U.S. Immigration Crackdown
In recent weeks, concerns over U.S. immigration enforcement have drawn international attention. Countries such as Germany, Denmark, Canada, and Australia have updated their travel advisories, warning citizens to avoid traveling to the United States without proper documentation. Alex P / Pexels
Green Card Applications Paused Amid Policy Shift
Adding to the administration’s recent measures, officials announced earlier this week that they had paused certain green card applications. This move could impact thousands of individuals, particularly refugees and asylum seekers, who had been seeking permanent residency in the U.S. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) / Wikimedia
Bill Would Amend Immigration Law to Bar Citizenship
If enacted, the No Citizenship for Alien Invaders Act would amend Section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to bill sponsors, the measure would “protect American sovereignty by ensuring that illegal immigrants cannot exploit the U.S. immigration system.” Mark Henle/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Mills Blames Border Crisis on Biden Policies
“Under the Biden administration, we saw more than 10 million encounters at our borders, a crisis exacerbated by reckless catch-and-release policies that allowed criminals who broke our laws to remain in the United States,” Mills said in a Thursday statement. “President Trump has made it clear that anyone that tries to unlawfully undermine, exploit, or bypass our immigration system is a criminal. Jack Gruber/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Brecheen: U.S. Must Restore ‘Law and Order’ on Immigration
Representative Josh Brecheen echoed this sentiment, stating: “America is a nation of laws, and if we allow those laws to be subverted by illegal aliens who have no constitutional right to be here in the first place, then we will cease to be a nation. The No Citizenship for Alien Invaders Act prevents illegal aliens from being rewarded with citizenship after breaking our laws. It's time we get back to common sense policies that restore law and order to America.” Andy Dossett / Examiner-Enterprise / USA TODAY NETWORK
Bill Raises Concerns Over DACA Recipients’ Future
The bill has not clarified whether recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also known as “Dreamers,” would be excluded. Immigration attorney Rosanna Berardi told Newsweek that the bill “could effectively eliminate any future opportunities for them to obtain U.S. citizenship,” adding that “the bill doesn’t explicitly exclude them, so it can certainly be viewed as a threat to their future prospects of legal status.” eric1958 / Pixabay
Critics Say Bill’s Language Could Face Legal Challenges
Berardi also noted that the language of the bill, particularly the use of terms like “alien invaders,” mirrors rhetoric from recent executive actions and may be challenged in court. “Despite the Republican majority in Congress, I believe the bill passage faces significant hurdles,” she said. “Immigration remains a deeply divisive issue, and even within the Republican Party, there are varying perspectives on how to address it.” qimono / Pixabay
Sen. Rand Paul Cautions Against Expedited Deportation Powers
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has previously expressed doubts about using older legal authorities like the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations, highlighting the “big legal questions” and the necessity of due process. Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Pew: U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population at 11 Million
According to data from the Pew Research Center, the unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. rose from 10.5 million in 2019 to 11 million in 2022. This reversed a prior decline but still remains below the 2007 peak of 12.2 million. Pew also estimates that unauthorized immigrants reside in roughly 6.3 million U.S. households—about 4.8% of the nation’s total—with 86% of those households including at least one unauthorized adult. Pew Research Center / Wikimedia