Rep.-elect Jace Yarbrough, a Republican from Texas who is set to enter Congress on Jan. 3, has expressed support for temporarily halting all immigration to the United States and repealing the 1965 Hart-Celler Act. Yarbrough, who will represent Texas' 32nd Congressional District, stated in an interview with Fox News Digital that the current immigration system is "insane" and requires a shift toward a merit-based approach. His comments come as Republicans face a challenging political landscape following recent midterm losses, with Yarbrough doubting that incoming Democratic majorities in both chambers will be willing to collaborate on his agenda.
Yarbrough argues that the U.S. is admitting too many immigrants, including individuals he describes as "avowedly anti-American" or connected to international terrorist groups. He advocates for a system where immigrants must "justify why it is that you are going to make our country stronger" and forswear allegiance to their country of origin. This stance contrasts with the current family-based immigration system, which accounts for the majority of green card issuances, while employment-based visas constitute a smaller share.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic leaders and progressive organizations have generally opposed calls to halt immigration entirely, arguing that the U.S. economy relies on immigrant labor and that family reunification is a core American value. Critics of Yarbrough’s position note that the 1965 Hart-Celler Act was designed to eliminate discriminatory national-origin quotas that favored Northern and Western Europeans while restricting immigrants from Asia, Africa, and other regions.
Many on the left view Yarbrough’s rhetoric regarding cultural compatibility and the "Islamification of Texas" as divisive and inconsistent with the nation's pluralistic traditions. The incoming Democratic majorities in Congress are expected to prioritize comprehensive immigration reform that includes pathways to citizenship for undocumented residents, rather than restrictions on legal immigration.
Some Democratic strategists have pointed to Yarbrough’s own electoral vulnerability—winning with just over 51% of the vote in a district reshaped by redistricting—as evidence that extreme restrictions on immigration may not resonate with a majority of voters in suburban areas.
What the Right Is Saying
Yarbrough frames his position within the "America First" movement, stating he did not "run away from any of the policy convictions" of that agenda. He asserts that Republicans should resist calls to moderate despite the party's poor performance in the midterms, crediting his victory in the 32nd District to his unwavering stance. Yarbrough has highlighted concerns about the spread of Sharia law, which he argues is "completely incompatible" with American values, citing a lawsuit involving the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) as an example of what he terms "anti-American Sharia supremacist behavior."
Conservative commentators and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who Yarbrough’s views align with regarding the EPIC mosque, have argued that local communities are facing cultural pressures from rapid demographic changes. Yarbrough, a Stanford-educated attorney and Air Force major, emphasizes that his job is to "fight for us and be unapologetic about the richness of our history." He supports restoring merit-based criteria for immigration, arguing that this approach strengthens national cohesion and economic competitiveness.
What the Numbers Show
Yarbrough won his race in Texas' 32nd Congressional District with just over 51% of the vote. His victory was facilitated by a 2025 redistricting effort that transformed the district from a Democratic stronghold into a Republican-leaning seat by adding conservative rural counties east of Dallas. Under the current U.S. immigration system, most green cards are issued through family-based sponsorship, while a significantly smaller share are allocated based on employment qualifications and skills.
The 1965 Hart-Celler Act, which Yarbrough supports repealing, abolished the national-origins quota system. In October 2025, the East Plano Islamic Center filed a lawsuit against the Baptist ministry Testimonies of God, alleging noise ordinance violations during Friday prayer services. A judge dismissed the lawsuit in March under Texas' anti-SLAPP law, but the mosque appealed, and the case remains pending. Plano police records indicate officers responded to a criminal trespass complaint at the mosque in May, though the log does not specify if citations were issued.
The Bottom Line
Yarbrough’s proposal to halt all immigration temporarily and repeal the 1965 Hart-Celler Act represents a significant shift from current mainstream Republican policy, which has largely focused on border security and enforcement rather than legal immigration caps. With Democrats controlling both chambers of Congress, the likelihood of Yarbrough’s specific legislative goals passing in the near term is low. However, his comments signal a growing faction within the GOP that prioritizes cultural assimilation and merit-based criteria over traditional family reunification models. Yarbrough acknowledged that some constituents were frustrated by the impact of the Iran war on gas prices, but he maintained that his hardline stance on immigration was the key to his electoral success in a shifting political landscape.