U.S. Representative Brandon Gil, a Republican from Texas, has introduced legislation to impose a 25-year moratorium on immigration from Somalia, citing concerns over welfare dependency, limited assimilation, and rising crime rates among Somali immigrant communities. The Somalia Immigration Moratorium Act, introduced on February 4, 2026, would suspend new immigration relief for Somali nationals while preserving the legal status of those already in the United States.
Mass Somali immigration means overwhelming welfare dependency, failed assimilation, refusal to learn English, and crime rates far higher than Americans.
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) February 12, 2026
If it doesn’t benefit our people, why are we allowing it? pic.twitter.com/p6mrao932E
Speaking in an interview with Benny Johnson, Gil emphasized that the purpose of the bill is to protect the interests of American citizens. “The purpose of our immigration system—the sole purpose—is to benefit American citizens. There’s no other reason that we have it,” he said. “We should be able to choose who comes into the country, and it should be on our terms.”
— American Gazzete (@AmericanGazzete) February 13, 2026
Gil argued that mass Somali immigration has not fulfilled this principle. He pointed to statistics showing that Somali immigrant households in Minnesota and nationwide rely heavily on government assistance. According to a 2025 report from the Center for Immigration Studies, 81 percent of Somali immigrant households nationwide receive some form of welfare. In Minnesota, where the largest Somali community in the United States resides, 73 percent of households have at least one member on Medicaid, and 54 percent receive food stamps. Even after a decade in the United States, Gil noted, many Somali immigrants continue to depend on government support. “Even after being in the United States for 10 years, 78% are still on welfare,” he said.
Gil described these patterns as evidence of failed assimilation. He argued that the Somali community forms parallel societies in cities such as Minneapolis, where many residents do not speak English fluently even after ten years. “About half of Somali immigrants in Minnesota, even after 10 years, speak English very well. That’s a proxy for cultural assimilation: if you can’t communicate, you’re not assimilating,” he said.
The congressman also criticized the broader social and political context of Somali immigration, highlighting what he called structural problems in Somalia itself. He described Somalia as a failed state with tribal governance, high corruption, and poor health and education outcomes. “These are facts from the UN,” he said. “This leads to poor outcomes in IQ and health, piracy, theft, government corruption, child brides, and sectarian violence. Why would you bring that into America?”
In addition to welfare dependency and assimilation concerns, Gil cited crime statistics. He referenced studies, including reporting by City Journal, showing higher crime rates among Somali men compared with Native American citizens. He framed the legislation as a moderate, preventive measure to halt what he called “parasitic” patterns of immigration that place a financial and social burden on the United States.
Gil emphasized that the bill does not apply to Somali immigrants already in the country legally, including green card holders and those on diplomatic or international organization visas. “If you have some Somali who is in the United States legally, currently, this does not kick them out – if they’re here legally. This bill just says we don’t want any more Somalians coming into America,” he said.
The Somalia Immigration Moratorium Act is positioned as a preventive measure to address what Gil describes as structural issues in both immigration policy and local communities affected by mass Somali migration. By imposing a 25-year pause, the legislation seeks to reassess the impact of immigration from Somalia on economic, social, and cultural outcomes in the United States.
