Restoration News has published an article asserting that congressional districts with high foreign-born populations distort U.S. democracy by inflating political representation and increasing the risk of foreign influence in American politics.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, the United States hosts over 46 million immigrants, accounting for approximately 14% of the total population. This positions America as the country with the largest immigrant population globally, surpassing nations such as Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. The concentration of immigrants in states like California, Texas, Florida, and New York creates congressional districts where foreign-born populations significantly influence representation despite many being ineligible to vote.
The Pew Research Center indicates that among these immigrants, around 23 million are naturalized citizens while 11 million are unauthorized immigrants. Despite their differing statuses, all individuals are counted for congressional apportionment, which determines House seat allocation. This method has fueled a long-standing debate about fairness since states with high numbers of non-citizens can gain additional political representation without a corresponding increase in eligible voters.
In 2023, Reuters reported that Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador threatened to influence U.S. elections by encouraging Mexican Americans to oppose Republican candidates. This intervention was linked to disputes over U.S. immigration and border enforcement policies. Analysts cited by Reuters warned that these remarks underscored a broader danger: diaspora communities in immigrant-heavy districts could be leveraged by foreign leaders to sway U.S. domestic politics.
The Wall Street Journal has documented instances where U.S. lawmakers with ties to immigrant-heavy constituencies made statements aligning with foreign governments’ positions. For example, representatives have communicated directly with foreign diaspora communities about their intent to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of their ancestral countries. The Journal noted that such incidents contribute to concerns about dual loyalty and the challenges of balancing local district needs with broader American national interests.
Restoration News is part of the Restoration of America Foundation, a conservative media initiative focused on investigative journalism from an America First perspective. The outlet reports on topics including immigration, election integrity, cultural issues, and governance. Its said mission is to expose threats to traditional American values and sovereignty while providing readers with analysis it claims is overlooked by mainstream outlets.
