Archive · 10 Nov 2025
GOP Lawmakers Challenge NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Citizenship, Urge Deportation
A man named Zohran Mamdani recently won an election to become the mayor of New York City, and he is the first Muslim and first person of South Asian background to do so.
Because he was born in another country, some politicians in Washington are spreading untrue rumors that he is not a real US citizen and should be sent back to where he was born.
They are saying he is a communist, even though the group he belongs to is not considered communist.
To take away someone's citizenship, there has to be a very serious court case proving they lied on important papers, which is extremely rare.
Experts say there is no real proof against Mayor-elect Mamdani, so these politicians' claims are not likely to lead to him being deported.
Trying to stop him from being mayor using other rules is also very unlikely to work.
Republican lawmakers are questioning the US citizenship of Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected Mayor of New York City.
False accusations have been made linking Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a US citizen in 2018, to communism and terrorism, with calls for his deportation.
Legal experts state that denaturalisation, the process of revoking citizenship, is rare and requires strong evidence of illegal procurement or a willful, material lie, which is reportedly lacking in Mamdani's case.
Mamdani's political affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America is noted, and this group is not considered a communist organization.
Attempts to bar Mamdani from office based on the 14th Amendment are considered extremely unlikely to succeed due to high legal hurdles.
- Who
- Zohran Mamdani (NYC Mayor-elect, state Assembly member), Republican lawmakers (including Andy Ogles), Donald Trump, immigration law experts, Jeremy McKinney (immigrant lawyer), Irina Manta (law professor).
- What
- Republican lawmakers are challenging Zohran Mamdani's US citizenship, falsely accusing him of communist and terrorist ties, and calling for his deportation after his victory in the New York City mayoral race. Legal experts state these claims are unfounded and denaturalisation is extremely rare and difficult.
- When
- Following Mamdani's victory last week and accusations made around October 29th.
- Where
- New York City and Washington, DC.
- Why
- Republican lawmakers are attempting to prevent Mamdani from taking office, citing unsubstantiated claims about his citizenship and affiliations, while legal experts explain the stringent requirements for denaturalisation and the unlikelihood of such claims succeeding.
- Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Age
- 34
- Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Birthplace
- Uganda
- Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Move to US
- 1998 (at age seven)
- Mayor-Elect Mamdani's US Citizenship
- 2018
- Republican Lawmaker Accusation
- Lied on naturalisation papers, involved in communist and 'terrorist' activities.
- Legal Process for Denaturalisation
- Requires a judicial ruling; exceedingly rare, needs proof of illegal procurement or willful, material lie.
- Democratic Socialists of America Status
- Not considered a communist organization.
- Challenge to Mamdani's Office
- Cited 14th Amendment by New York Young Republican Club, deemed highly unlikely to succeed.
Sources
'Zohran Mamdani Has A Very Complicated Identity'
Will The Congress Learn The 'Mamdani' Lesson?
What it means for a Kolkata girl to see her friend Zohran Mamdani become New York mayor
Opinion | How Zohran Mamdani’s Election May Mark A Major Ideological Shift In American Urban Politics
