Tennessee Republican calls for Mamdani to be denaturalized, deported

The Hill

4 days ago

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) suggested New York Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani should be deported and denaturalized ahead of the November election.
'Zohran 'little muhammad' Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York,' Ogles wrote in a Thursday post on X.
'He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings,' he added.
The Tennessee lawmaker attached his letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi in the post, urging her to denaturalize Mamdani citing a chapter from the U.S. Code that outlines the revocation of citizenship for individuals who willfully misrepresent or conceal material support for terrorism.
'According to public reports, including a June 21, 2025 New York Post article, Mr. Mamdani expressed open solidarity with individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses prior to becoming a U.S. citizen. Specifically, he rapped: 'Free the Holy Land Five / My guys,'' Ogles wrote in the letter.
The Holy Land Foundation is a U.S.-based Muslim charity. Five of its leaders were convicted of funneling money to Hamas in support of Palestine in 2008.
'Publicly praising the Foundation's convicted leadership as 'my guys' raises serious concerns about whether Mr. Mamdani held affiliations or sympathies he failed to disclose during the naturalization process,' Ogles wrote.
'While I understand that some may raise First Amendment concerns about taking legal action based on expressive conduct, such as rap lyrics, speech alone does not preclude accountability where it reasonably suggests underlying conduct relevant to eligibility for naturalization.'
Mamdani's campaign team and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment.
However, the New York City mayoral candidate did speak to the weaponization of antisemitism throughout his campaign and division during his victory speech.
'This has been a historically contentious race. One that has filled our airwaves with millions in smears and slander,' Mamdani told voters.
'I hope, I hope now that this primary has come to an end, I can introduce myself once more. Not as you've seen me in a 30-second ad or in a mailer in your mailbox, but as how I will lead as your mayor,' he added.
Mamdani has been subject to car bomb threats in repeated voicemails, on various dates by an unknown individual making threatening anti-Muslim statements, the New York Police Department told The Hill.
As a part of his campaign, Mamdani has pledged to increase the city's anti-hate crime program by 800 percent to tackle Islamophobia and antisemitism, amid other concerns, according to CNN.
'I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all. I will fight for a city that works for you, that is affordable for you, that is safe for you, I will work to be a mayor you will be proud to call your own,' he said during his victory speech.
'I cannot promise that you will always agree with me, but I will never hide from you. If you are hurting, I will try to heal. If you feel misunderstood, I will strive to understand. Your concerns will always be mine, and I will put your hopes before my own.'