House Republican Nancy Mace is pushing legislation that would permanently codify President Donald Trump's expanded travel ban on 39 countries, a move that could reshape U.S. immigration policy. The South Carolina lawmaker's bill, titled the Third World Immigration Moratorium Act, would bar entry to individuals from a broad list of nations across the Caribbean, Middle East, and Africa, as well as those traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents. Mace argues the measure is necessary to protect national security and ensure that immigration serves American interests.
The proposed legislation mirrors the list of countries currently facing full or partial travel restrictions under the Trump administration, which was expanded significantly after two high-profile incidents involving foreign nationals. In June 2025, an Egyptian national was charged with a deadly firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, prompting the administration to resurrect a travel ban on 12 countries. Later, after an Afghan national fatally shot a West Virginia National Guard member and severely injured a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant in Washington, D.C., Trump more than doubled the list to include 39 nations. Both perpetrators were in the country illegally after overstaying their visas, according to the administration.
Mace's bill would block entry from Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Many of these countries rank among the poorest globally and have struggled with instability and terrorism, while Iran and Cuba are longtime U.S. adversaries.
In a statement, Mace emphasized that the legislation sends a clear message about the nature of U.S. immigration. «For too long, Washington has looked the other way while bad actors exploited every gap in our system and American families paid the price. Those days are over,» she said. «If you import the third world, you will become the third world. This bill makes crystal clear: entry into the United States is a privilege, not a right. We make absolutely no apologies for defending it.» The lawmaker argued that many immigrants from the affected countries have failed to assimilate into American life, a claim that has drawn criticism from immigration advocates.
The bill includes several exemptions, such as lawful permanent residents, dual nationals using passports from non-restricted countries, diplomats, NATO personnel, athletes in major international competitions, special immigrant visa recipients who assisted U.S. forces, and some individuals fleeing ethnic or religious persecution in Iran. The Department of Homeland Security secretary would also have the authority to grant case-by-case waivers if admitting an individual is deemed in the nation's critical interest. These provisions aim to address concerns about overly broad restrictions while maintaining security.
Despite its strong language, the legislation faces an uphill battle in the House. Opposition is expected from Democrats and some Republicans who support legal immigration from several of the listed countries. Earlier this year, a handful of Republicans joined Democrats in voting to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, despite the Trump administration's opposition. Some Republicans have also defended legal immigration for people from Cuba, Venezuela, and other nations subject to the ban, often citing their roles as proxies against foreign adversaries. The political dynamics could complicate Mace's efforts, especially as she navigates her own political future.
Mace is serving the final months of her House term after losing her bid for South Carolina governor earlier this year. She has floated running in a fast-approaching primary election to succeed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly. The travel ban legislation is part of a broader push by Mace to position herself as a hardliner on immigration, a key issue for Republican primary voters. She previously introduced a bill that would bar naturalized citizens from serving in most federal government roles, including Congress and as federal judges.
The Trump administration has defended the travel ban as a necessary national security measure, pointing to the incidents in Boulder and Washington, D.C., as evidence of vulnerabilities in the immigration system. Critics, however, argue that the ban targets predominantly Muslim and developing nations, raising concerns about discrimination and foreign policy repercussions. The debate over the ban is likely to intensify as the 2026 midterm elections approach, with immigration remaining a central issue for voters.
