Segun Atanda/
Prominent Republicans have intensified calls to revoke the United States citizenship of Kampala-born New York mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, following his surprise electoral victory that made him the first Muslim and Indian-American to govern America’s largest city.
Tennessee congressman, Andy Ogles and Florida’s Randy Fine are leading the push, claiming Mamdani may have “procured US citizenship through wilful misrepresentation or concealment of material support for terrorism.”
The lawmakers have urged the Department of Justice to open a formal inquiry into Mamdani’s naturalisation in 2018, questioning whether he met the legal requirements for US citizenship.
Their campaign has gained momentum on right-wing media platforms, with President Donald Trump amplifying the allegations at a recent rally, suggesting that Mamdani “should be investigated immediately” and hinting at possible action by federal authorities.
Mamdani, born in Uganda and naturalised as a US citizen seven years ago, dismissed the accusations as “a dangerous escalation rooted in Islamophobia and fear of change.”
Legal analysts say while US law allows citizenship to be revoked through a process known as denaturalisation, such action is rare and can only occur if the government proves in court that the person lied or concealed key facts during the naturalisation process.
Critics of the Republican effort describe it as a politically motivated attack aimed at undermining a newly elected progressive mayor who represents a demographic and ideological shift in New York City politics.
Civil rights groups have condemned the move as an attempt to weaponise citizenship laws against immigrants and minorities.
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