House Republicans are calling for an investigation into New York State Assemblymember and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, urging the Department of Justice to review his citizenship status — a move that has sparked outrage among civil rights advocates and political observers.
Mamdani, 33, was born in Uganda and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. Since then, he has become one of the most visible progressive voices in New York City politics, representing parts of Queens and recently announcing his bid for mayor.
A small group of Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) and Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), have sent letters to the DOJ alleging “concealment” and “foreign ideological affiliation” in Mamdani’s naturalization process. The claims center on his past involvement with the Democratic Socialists of America and statements critical of U.S. foreign policy.
There is no verified evidence of any wrongdoing or pending legal action against Mamdani. The DOJ has not confirmed any investigation, and legal experts say denaturalization is extremely rare, typically reserved for proven fraud or serious crimes.
In a public response, Mamdani said the attacks are politically motivated and rooted in fear of diversity and dissent.
“I’m not being targeted for any crime,” Mamdani said. “I’m being targeted because I represent a new vision of what America can be — one where immigrants, Muslims, and progressives have a voice.”
Civil rights groups have condemned the effort, calling it an attempt to weaponize citizenship against political opponents. They warn it could set a dangerous precedent by suggesting that naturalized citizens can lose their status for expressing political views.
Legal analysts note that while Congress can request investigations, citizenship cannot be revoked for ideology or political beliefs. The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that denaturalization must be based on clear evidence of fraud in the citizenship process.
The controversy comes amid renewed national debate over immigration and loyalty tests. Former President Donald Trump and some allies have recently proposed “citizenship audits” as part of their immigration agenda — a plan critics say could unfairly target naturalized Americans.
For now, Mamdani remains focused on his mayoral campaign, framing the controversy as part of a broader struggle for equality and belonging.
“This is bigger than me,” he said. “It’s about whether citizenship in America is a right — or a privilege that can be taken away for thinking differently.”
The Department of Justice has not issued a public comment on the matter.