Republican groups are calling for the deportation of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for NYC mayor, citing his recent citizenship
From Victory to Vilification: Zohran Mamdani’s Rise and the GOP Backlash
On June 25, 2025, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and New York State Assemblyman, made history by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Garnering 43.5% of the vote, Mamdani’s win was hailed by progressives as a generational shift in urban politics. But within hours, the celebration turned into a political storm.
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The New York Young Republican Club (NYYRC) issued a fiery statement calling for Mamdani’s citizenship to be revoked and for him to be deported, citing his naturalization in 2018. “The radical Zohran Mamdani cannot be allowed to destroy our beloved city of New York,” the group posted on X (formerly Twitter), invoking the Communist Control Act of 1954, a rarely enforced Cold War-era law aimed at banning communists from public office.
The backlash was swift and polarizing. President Donald Trump called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” on Truth Social, while his allies, including Stephen Miller and Thomas Homan, echoed calls for federal action. The NYYRC urged the White House to act immediately, stating, “He isn’t the mayor yet. There’s still time.”
Legal Loopholes and Political Theater: Can Mamdani Be Deported?
The legal basis for the deportation demand is murky at best. The Communist Control Act, signed by President Eisenhower in 1954, was designed to outlaw the Communist Party USA and bar communists from certain roles. However, it has rarely been enforced and has faced multiple constitutional challenges over the decades.
Mamdani, born in Uganda in 1991, moved to New York at age 7 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. Under U.S. law, naturalized citizens enjoy the same rights as native-born citizens, and revoking citizenship requires clear legal grounds, such as fraud during the naturalization process, none of which have been alleged in Mamdani’s case.
Legal scholars have dismissed the GOP’s calls as political posturing. “This is not about legality, it’s about ideology,” said constitutional law expert Dr. Lila Fernandez. “The invocation of the Communist Control Act is symbolic, not actionable.”
Still, the rhetoric has stirred fears among immigrant communities and civil rights advocates. Many see the attack on Mamdani as a thinly veiled attempt to delegitimize immigrants in public office, especially those with progressive views.
Identity, Ideology, and the Future of American Politics
Mamdani’s candidacy is historic on multiple fronts. If elected, he would become New York City’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor. The son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, he represents a new wave of leaders challenging traditional political norms.
His platform includes abolishing ICE, ending mass incarceration, and expanding public housing, positions that have earned him both admiration and ire. Supporters view him as a bold reformer; critics label him a radical threat.
The controversy has also reignited debates over who gets to be “American enough” to lead. “This isn’t just about Mamdani,” said activist Ayesha Rahman. “It’s about whether immigrants and their children can ever be fully accepted in the political mainstream.”
Mamdani, for his part, has remained composed. In a statement, he said, “New York belongs to all of us. The MAGA extremists may try to divide us, but the movement we’ve built is proof of the enduring promise of this city. And we’re not going anywhere.”
Conclusion:
The uproar over Zohran Mamdani’s citizenship and candidacy is more than a political skirmish, it’s a reflection of America’s ongoing struggle with identity, inclusion, and ideological diversity. As the 2025 mayoral race heats up, the question isn’t just whether Mamdani can win, it’s whether the nation is ready to embrace what his victory represents.
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