Ogles spearheads House GOP move to strip New York mayoral frontrunner of U.S. citizenship

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles is at the center of a new national controversy after leading a Republican push to revoke the U.S. citizenship of New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and frontrunner in New York City’s 2025 mayoral race.

Ogles joined Florida Rep. Randy Fine in urging the Justice Department to investigate whether Mamdani concealed information during his naturalization process in 2018. Both lawmakers allege that Mamdani failed to disclose affiliations that would have disqualified him from citizenship, including membership in the Democratic Socialists of America.

“In 2018 when he was naturalized, he failed to disclose some of the things that he had been doing, one of which was joining the [Democratic] Socialists of America,” Ogles told Newsmax in remarks cited by the New York Post. “That’s a communist organization which, quite frankly, at that time, would have disqualified him from becoming a United States citizen.”

The Tennessee Republican went further in a post to X, calling Mamdani an “antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York” and declaring, “Deport Mamdani!”

The charges and the context

Mamdani, born in Uganda and raised in New York City, became a U.S. citizen in 2018 and has since emerged as one of the most prominent left-wing figures in city politics. Ogles and Fine claim he made false statements during his citizenship process by failing to acknowledge ideological affiliations that they argue violate U.S. immigration law, which bars anyone who “has been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party.”

Ogles also accused Mamdani of providing “material support for terrorism” by publicly defending the “Holy Land Five,” a group of Muslim-American charity leaders convicted in 2008 of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas. Mamdani has denied being a communist and has not commented on the denaturalization demand.

The Justice Department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has confirmed receipt of Ogles’ letter but declined to discuss whether a review is underway. “The department does not comment on the status of ongoing or potential investigations,” a spokesperson told the Post.

Political reaction

Michigan Democrat Rep. Shri Thanedar condemned Ogles’ rhetoric and called for his censure, saying the Tennessee congressman’s remarks were “un-American” and targeted Muslim Americans for political gain.
Supporters of Ogles, meanwhile, have praised his stance as a defense of national security and a reaffirmation of President Trump’s calls to tighten citizenship standards.

Tennessee implications

For Ogles, whose Middle Tennessee district includes Williamson, Maury, and parts of Davidson County, the Mamdani controversy continues a pattern of high-visibility, ideologically charged battles that resonate with his conservative base. The freshman congressman has positioned himself as one of President Trump’s most outspoken allies and frequently uses national flashpoints to reinforce his populist credentials at home.

Ogles is already facing a well-funded 2026 Democratic challenger in Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who has built his campaign around restoring “integrity and accountability.” The Mamdani push, while unlikely to have direct legal consequences, underscores how Ogles is defining his tenure through culture-war and security issues rather than legislation.

Broader stakes

Denaturalization proceedings are rare and typically reserved for cases involving fraud or concealed war crimes. Legal experts say Congress has limited authority to direct such actions, though lawmakers can request Justice Department review. The symbolic move reflects the right’s escalating focus on ideological purity tests for immigrants seeking public office.

For Ogles, the episode offers both opportunity and risk: an elevated national profile among Trump-aligned conservatives, but renewed scrutiny over his own record and the tone of his political brand heading into a competitive reelection cycle.