A heated political controversy is brewing after Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) called for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to be denaturalized and deported ahead of the upcoming November election.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Ogles accused Mamdani, a progressive Democrat and state assemblymember, of holding radical and anti-American views. “Zohran ‘little muhammad’ Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York,” Ogles wrote, demanding that he be removed from the country through denaturalization proceedings.
Ogles backed up his call with a formal letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The letter cited U.S. immigration law that allows for the revocation of citizenship if it is found to have been obtained through intentional misrepresentation or by concealing connections to terrorism-related activities.
In the letter, Ogles referenced a June 2025 article from the New York Post highlighting Mamdani’s past statements that appear to praise individuals convicted in a major terrorism case. Specifically, Mamdani once performed a rap that included the line: “Free the Holy Land Five / My guys.”
The Holy Land Foundation was a Texas-based Islamic charity shut down in the early 2000s after its leadership was convicted of funneling money to Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. The five men—known as the “Holy Land Five”—were convicted in 2008 and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
Ogles contends that Mamdani’s apparent praise of these individuals raises serious concerns about whether he withheld critical information during his citizenship application process. “Publicly aligning with individuals convicted of aiding terrorist organizations is a red flag,” Ogles wrote. “If these sympathies existed at the time of his naturalization, and were not disclosed, they warrant immediate legal review.”
Mamdani, who has risen in progressive political circles and is backed by several high-profile figures on the left, has not yet publicly responded to the call for his deportation. His campaign has drawn attention for its outspoken positions on Israel, U.S. foreign policy, and social justice issues—stances that have divided voters and ignited backlash from more conservative lawmakers.
The call for denaturalization adds a new layer of intensity to an already contentious mayoral race in New York City, setting the stage for national debate over immigration, free speech, and political radicalism.
