Republican Rep. Andy Ogles has done the right thing by demanding that the Justice Department review the citizenship of Zohran Mamdani, the left’s rising star in the New York City mayoral race. Ogles wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi asking whether Mamdani should be subject to denaturalization proceedings, alleging possible concealment on his naturalization forms and even calling for deportation if fraud is found. This is not partisan grandstanding; it is a straightforward call for the rule of law to be applied evenly to everyone in public life.
The specific accusations center on omissions and affiliations around Mamdani’s 2018 naturalization — including alleged ties to the Democratic Socialists of America and controversial public statements and lyrics that critics say raise red flags. Conservatives are rightly alarmed when a candidate who could wield enormous power in America’s largest city has unexplained gaps in their official record, and when answers are evasive or incomplete. Asking tough questions about naturalization is about national security and civic integrity, not a witch hunt; if paperwork was falsified, denaturalization is the lawful remedy.
Mamdani is a naturalized citizen who came to the U.S. from Uganda and was sworn in as a citizen in 2018, and the DOJ has acknowledged receiving inquiries from House Republicans about his case. Denaturalization is a heavy legal step and requires proof of fraud or concealment, but the expansion of denaturalization efforts in recent months shows the federal government is treating citizenship integrity as a serious priority. The American people should expect thorough, professional investigations — not reflexive defenses from those who insist partisan loyalty trumps the law.
Democrats and some civil-rights groups have predictably screamed “Islamophobia” and “racism” at every Republican question, trying to shut down scrutiny with moralistic smears instead of addressing the substance. That tactic won’t fly with voters who care more about safety, transparency, and accountability than about protecting a favored candidate from legitimate inquiry. If the left truly believes in the rule of law, it should welcome a clean, conclusive review that either clears Mamdani or exposes wrongdoing — anything less looks like partisan cover-up.
Let’s be blunt: open borders and lax vetting have consequences, and our institutions must not be weaponized for political cover. Conservatives have been warning for years about the need to safeguard citizenship and to ensure that public office is held only by those qualified under our laws. A measured DOJ probe would be a sign that America still honors its laws and treats citizenship as a privilege that can be rescinded if acquired by fraud.
At the same time, patriotic Americans should demand due process — investigations done properly, evidence evaluated in court, and conclusions reached transparently. That means no mob justice, no media-driven verdicts, and no partisan immunity for powerful Democrats. If the evidence shows fraud, do your duty; if it does not, that should be made clear and the matter closed so voters can focus on real issues like crime, education, and the economy.
This is a defining moment for voters in New York and for every American who cares about the rule of law. The DOJ must act swiftly and fairly, Congress must insist on answers, and ordinary citizens must hold both parties accountable for how they handle questions of citizenship and loyalty. Patriots demand integrity from their leaders — nothing less will do.
