Making the Case for Denaturalizing and Deporting Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani, lightning rod candidate for New York City mayor who’s a naturalized U.S. citizen (2018), originally from Uganda, has drawn intense scrutiny for his political activism, past incendiary artistic expressions, and affiliations with extremist causes. Many in New York and across the country have demanded that Mamdani’s citizenship be revoked — and that he be deported — citing his communist ideology, dangerous rap lyrics and antisemitic and hateful public statements as evidence of disloyalty to the United States.

Mamdani has been a member of the New York State Assembly since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, he is the Democratic primary winner for mayor of New York City in the 2025 election.

There indeed are compelling legal, national security, and political grounds that Mamdani is deportable under U.S. law when evidence substantiates fraud or concealed ties to prohibited groups during his naturalization process seven years ago. Let’s explore the case for his denaturalization, examining specific evidence from Mamdani’s actions, legal mechanisms, and the broader implications of allowing such figures to retain citizenship. (Disclaimer: I’m not an immigration attorney).

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), specifically Section 340(a), provides a clear pathway for denaturalization when U.S. citizenship is obtained through “willful misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact” during the naturalization process. This includes lying about affiliations with groups deemed threats to national security, such as terrorist organizations, or failing to disclose activities that demonstrate a lack of allegiance to the United States. Mamdani, in the past, was a rapper under the name Young Cardamom, and he particularly referenced the “Holy Land Five” in a rap song, as hard evidence of sympathy for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization under 18 U.S.C. § 2339B.

The United States officially designates Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This designation was made by the U.S. Department of State in 1997. Hamas has also been listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) since October 2001 by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

The Holy Land case resulted in convictions for that group funneling over $12 million to Hamas, and Mamdani’s lyrical nod to the convicted individuals suggests ideological alignment. If Mamdani concealed such sympathies and affiliations when completing his Form N-400 in 2018, this would constitute fraud, a clear basis for revoking his citizenship. If the DOJ uncovers evidence—such as communications, donations, or affiliations with groups linked to the Holy Land Foundation—that Mamdani withheld during his 2018 application, this will provide an even stronger case for denaturalization.

Furthermore, the Communist Control Act of 1954 can  be invoked to argue that Mamdani has affiliation with communist, socialist and Marxist revolutionary principles, which could violate the naturalization oath requiring allegiance to the U.S. Constitution. The Act targets individuals who conceal membership in communist organizations within five years of naturalization. Mamdani’s active role in the DSA, including his endorsement of their platform may indicate a worldview incompatible with U.S. values. The Department of Justice should investigate whether Mamdani’s failure to disclose DSA membership or related communist activities constitutes a material misrepresentation, justifying denaturalization and subsequent deportation under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(4). His DSA ties and consistent incendiary and grossly Antisemitic statements indicate a lack of good moral character, a requirement for naturalization.

Mamdani’s case raises significant national security concerns, particularly in the context of heightened scrutiny of naturalized citizens post-9/11. The Trump administration’s Operation Janus during his first term targeted individuals who obtained citizenship through fraud, resulting in over 100 denaturalizations since 2017. So, the concept of denaturalization is not new. An Axios article Monday outlines a recent Department of Justice memo, focusing on national security threats and immigration fraud.

Mamdani’s continued rhetoric threatens national unity. His role as a New York State assembly member amplifies the potential impact of his views, as he influences policy and public discourse. Allowing a figure such as he with alleged extremist sympathies to retain citizenship could undermine trust in the naturalization process.

Essentially, when evidence proves Mamdani concealed ties to a designated terrorist group (e.g., Hamas) or committed fraud on naturalization form N-400, the legal grounds for denaturalization are high. If evidence (e.g., communications, financial records) confirms he has direct ties to prohibited groups or fraud during naturalization, this makes chances even higher.

Denaturalizing Mamdani would serve as a powerful statement about the boundaries of acceptable activism for naturalized citizens. Mamdani’s radical progressive agenda, including his communist, DSA-backed policies, challenges the core values of the U.S. By revoking his citizenship, the government could deter other naturalized citizens from leveraging their status to advance ideologies perceived as anti-American. This case could set a modern precedent, signaling that citizenship is a privilege contingent on full transparency and loyalty.