House Republicans launch shocking push to denaturalise Zohran Mamdani — NYC mayoral frontrunner accused of omitting ties to socialist and pro-Hamas groups on his U.S. citizenship application
In a dramatic escalation of the 2025 New York City mayoral race, two House Republicans have called on the United States Department of Justice to investigate and possibly revoke the citizenship of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist Assemblyman turned mayoral frontrunner. In letters filed this week, Representatives Randy Fine (R-Fla.) and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) contend that Mamdani, who was naturalised in 2018, may have failed to disclose membership in the Democratic Socialists of America as required under federal immigration law.
Their arguments hinge on federal statutes that bar naturalisation applicants who have ever been affiliated with a “Communist or totalitarian” organisation, asserting that the Democratic Socialists of America should qualify under that designation. Ogles went further, citing Mamdani’s earlier support for freeing the “Holy Land Five,” a group of convicted Palestinian-Americans accused of funding Hamas, and branding Mamdani as “antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York.”
Fine urged the Justice Department to “review every naturalisation of the past 30 years – starting with Mamdani.” He said young elected officials should not be occupying important office if their citizenship is in doubt. “If they’re not Americans, they can’t be in office,” he told reporters. Mamdani’s camp has denied any wrongdoing, insisting he is a U.S. citizen in good standing who was born in Uganda and became a U.S. citizen as required.
The renewed controversy comes as Mamdani recently surged ahead in polling for the mayoral race, positioning himself as a fresh voice for affordable housing, free public transit, and public safety reform. His political ascent alarmed national Republicans, who view his candidacy as symbolising a shift leftwards for the Democratic Party — and a potential loss of control in one of America’s largest cities.
Mamdani has not publicly addressed the denaturalisation push, but in past interviews he dismissed efforts to link him to communism, saying that his labels were politically motivated. “I am not a Communist,” he said in one televised appearance. His campaign emphasises his immigrant background and ascent from working-class roots to the New York State Assembly.
Legal experts note that denaturalisation and deportation of a naturalised citizen is rare and requires a high bar of proof, usually involving fraud or serious misconduct. Critics of the GOP effort say the timing and targeting are politically charged. One Democrat, Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), called the attacks “politically and racially charged,” noting the accused is a Black Muslim immigrant running for one of the highest offices in the country.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has not confirmed whether it will open a formal investigation, citing policy of not commenting on potential or ongoing matters. The diplomatic channel on these kinds of matters remains quiet for now, but the public debate has already begun. Republicans are preparing digital ad campaigns linking Mamdani to other progressive candidates and warning that his election would represent a far-left takeover of New York. Some Democratic centrist voices, already uneasy about Mamdani’s grassroots credentials and rhetoric, now say the denaturalisation allegations add unwanted distraction to the campaign.
For voters, the controversy raises fundamental questions about eligibility, citizenship, and political accountability. If Mamdani is forced off the ballot or stripped of his citizenship, the effect would be historic. If not, the effort may redefine how naturalised citizens — especially immigrants rising in politics — are treated under the law.
As the campaign shifts into its final months, Mamdani’s opponents will likely continue to emphasise this issue, while his supporters seek to portray the challenge as a smear campaign intended to suppress a rising progressive figure. In either scenario, the fight over Zohran Mamdani’s citizenship has already become one of the most contentious flashpoints in the race for New York City mayor.
