House Republican demands Zohran Mamdani be stripped of citizenship, deported over ‘anti-Israel’ stance
In a controversial move, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) is calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, with the aim of potentially denaturalizing and deporting him. Mamdani, a Democratic socialist and current New York State assemblyman, has emerged as a leading contender in the mayoral race. Ogles’ request follows his earlier inquiry in June and is fueled by new reports that raise concerns about Mamdani’s past statements and associations, particularly his alleged support for individuals convicted of providing material support to Hamas and his refusal to denounce violent anti-American rhetoric. Mamdani, who became a U.S. citizen in 2018 and holds dual citizenship with Uganda, has been under scrutiny for his outspoken criticism of Israel and his controversial comments.
Ogles emphasizes that no individual, regardless of their political stature, should evade accountability if credible evidence suggests deception during the naturalization process. He points to Mamdani’s public expressions of support for the Holy Land Foundation, which has been linked to Hamas, and questions whether these associations were disclosed during his citizenship application. Notably, Mamdani has faced accusations of being overly sympathetic to Hamas, especially following the group’s involvement in the recent terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. Despite these allegations, Mamdani has attempted to present himself as a unifying candidate, asserting his commitment to serving all New Yorkers, regardless of their political affiliations.
While Mamdani has avoided explicitly endorsing Hamas, he has faced scrutiny for his reluctance to directly address the group’s actions. During a recent debate, he stated, “Of course, I believe that they should lay down their arms,” which has not quelled the criticism from his opponents. As early voting begins in New York, Mamdani’s campaign finds itself at a crossroads, balancing the need to address these serious allegations while maintaining a broader appeal to the electorate. Ogles’ call for an investigation underscores the heightened tensions surrounding the mayoral race and the implications of Mamdani’s past statements on his candidacy. As the election approaches, the focus on Mamdani’s associations and rhetoric may significantly influence voter perceptions and the overall dynamics of the race.
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FIRST ON FOX:
A House GOP lawmaker is calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to denaturalize and deport New York City mayoral candidate
Zohran Mamdani.
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., is sending a new request to the DOJ to probe Mamdani, a self-declared Democratic socialist and New York State assemblyman, who is the frontrunner in the race to lead the Big Apple.
Since his initial inquiry in June, Ogles wrote that “additional public reporting has raised further questions about Mr. Mamdani’s past statements and associations, including his refusal to disavow violent anti-American rhetoric and continued public praise for individuals convicted of providing material support to Hamas.”
Mamdani, who holds dual citizenship with the U.S. and Uganda, was naturalized as an American in 2018.
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It is illegal to deport American citizens. A denaturalization process can occur if it can be proven via federal court that someone’s citizenship was fraudulently obtained.
“No individual, regardless of public office or public profile, should be shielded from accountability if credible evidence indicates deception or concealment during the citizenship process,” Ogles wrote.
“I again urge the Department to open a formal investigation into whether Mr. Mamdani’s public expressions of support for the Holy Land Foundation’s convicted leadership, and his ongoing rhetoric sympathetic to anti-Israel and anti-U.S. movements, were disclosed as required during his naturalization.”
The Holy Land Foundation was accused in a U.S. court of having ties to Hamas.
EARLY VOTING UNDERWAY IN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY AMID HOTLY CONTESTED MAYOR AND GOVERNOR RACES
The
New York Post
reported that Mamdani praised the group’s founders in a 2017 rap song he released under the name “Mr. Cardamom.”
The mayoral hopeful has also been accused multiple times on the campaign trail of being overly sympathetic to Hamas, the Palestinian terror group that was behind the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel.
He is also a fervent critic of Israel and its war in Gaza, pledging to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he set foot in New York City.
But Mamdani has painted a more
moderate picture of himself
as he pledges to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, regardless of whether they supported him or not.
He has never explicitly expressed support for Hamas but has avoided directly weighing in on the group on multiple occasions until a
recent debate against
his fellow mayoral candidates, where he said, “Of course, I believe that they should lay down their arms.”
Ogles’ letter said, “The United States must uphold the integrity of its citizenship process and ensure that those who seek to represent the public meet the highest standards of loyalty to this Nation.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s campaign for a response but did not hear back.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
