Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) is set to circulate a bill that closely mirrors a 1993 immigration reform proposal originally introduced by the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada). The legislation seeks to drastically reduce the scope of birthright citizenship and includes provisions to substantially cut legal immigration, cap refugee admissions at 50,000 annually, and speed up deportations with limited court review.

The bill, obtained by Fox News Digital, is described as a comprehensive immigration reform package. Moreno stated earlier in July 2026, "What it's going to do is highlight two things. The Democrats of today are nothing like the Democrats of 1993 and, if they choose to reject a bill sponsored by their majority leader that they named an airport in Las Vegas after, then I think my Republican colleagues have no choice."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) responded last month to the Supreme Court’s decision affirming birthright citizenship, saying, "No matter how much President Trump tries to steal citizenship from people that the Constitution has said have earned it and reverse the grand American tradition of welcoming newcomers to our nation, the Supreme Court confirmed today that those born in America are American."

Harry Reid had previously expressed concerns that "our borders have overflowed with illegal immigrants, placing tremendous burdens" on various programs, and that "our federal wallet is stretched to the limit by illegal aliens getting welfare, food stamps, medical care and other benefits, often without paying any taxes."

Moreno's move revives a decades-old Democratic proposal to redefine the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which currently grants automatic citizenship to all children born in the U.S. The bill would modify this language to limit birthright citizenship.

Sources