A United States lawmaker, Nancy Mace, has proposed legislation seeking to ban immigration from Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, citing national security concerns.

Mace, a Republican representing South Carolina, announced the proposed bill in a statement published on her official website on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the legislation is intended to protect American communities from what she described as security risks associated with the three African countries.

“Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) announced her plans to introduce legislation to ban immigration from Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, protecting American communities from the instability and security threats these nations bring,” the statement read.

Mace said the United States should prioritise the safety and security of its citizens over the interests of foreign nationals.

She described Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan as among the world’s most dangerous and unstable countries, arguing that the US should avoid what she called the immigration mistakes made by some European nations.

The proposal is a bill introduced by a member of Congress and would still need to pass both chambers of the US Congress and be signed into law before taking effect.