Mace, who represents South Carolina, made the announcement in a statement released on June 25 and published on her official website. She described the three countries as “Third World Hellholes” and said the proposed legislation is intended to safeguard American communities from what she believes are security threats associated with migrants from those nations.
Announcing the proposal, Mace said, “Today (June 25), 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.”
Explaining the rationale behind the planned legislation, she stated, “We will not put the interests of foreign nationals ahead of the safety and security of American citizens.
“No more importing instability. No more ignoring the warning signs. No more apologising for putting our country first. America First. Always.”
The congresswoman argued that Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan rank among the world’s most unstable countries and warned that the United States should avoid what she described as the immigration failures experienced by some European nations.
“Americans have watched European cities descend into chaos. Importing people from failed and hostile states has cost lives, destroyed communities, and shattered public trust in government. The United States will not make those mistakes. We are stopping it before it’s too late,” she said.
Mace further alleged that immigration from the three countries presents broader security and integration challenges.
“We are being systematically invaded and everyone is sitting around watching it happen. Not us. We refuse,” Mace added.
Her proposal reflects the strict immigration policies championed by Donald Trump. During his first term, Trump implemented the controversial “Muslim travel ban,” which restricted entry from several Muslim-majority countries, including Somalia and Sudan.
Since returning to office, Trump has continued to pursue tougher immigration measures, including expanded travel restrictions affecting multiple countries and large-scale deportation initiatives. He has also repeatedly pledged to “permanently pause” migration from what he called “Third World countries,” arguing that such measures are necessary to prevent the United States from becoming one. He has also criticised immigration from countries including China and India, referring to them as failed states or “hellholes.”
Mace’s proposal has not yet been formally introduced before the U.S. Congress.