(NEW YORK CITY) Zohran Mamdani pushed back forcefully against attacks on his immigration status and citizenship, calling the allegations political smears aimed at discrediting him as a Muslim, South Asian, and left-leaning candidate in a high-profile mayoral contest. In multiple public appearances and statements, he rejected claims that his background poses any “national security” risk, arguing the accusations are meant to chill protected speech and intimidate immigrant voices in U.S. politics.
The New York lawmaker, who has lived in the United States for nearly three decades, said the campaign against him has targeted his identity and lawful political work. He labeled the barrage “racist bullshit,” a phrase that has come to define his response. He added that the issue is not his history — which he says is transparent and fully known to authorities — but rather his advocacy for positions that some opponents dislike.
Political affiliations and free speech
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), said attempts to use his DSA affiliation and public support for Palestinian rights as supposed evidence of disloyalty are unfounded. He stressed DSA is a legal political organization, and his advocacy is protected political speech.
On national television during a recent appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he condemned what he called “regular and repeated smears and slander upon my name and on the very basis of my faith,” linking the attacks to a broader pattern that resurfaces during election cycles.
“These are political smears meant to chill protected speech and intimidate immigrant voices,” Mamdani said, according to multiple statements.
Legal context: denaturalization and deportation
The legal landscape he pointed to is clear on two basic points:
– It is illegal to deport a U.S. citizen.
– Denaturalization is a rare process that requires proof of fraud or willful misrepresentation during the citizenship application.
Mamdani says he fully disclosed required information, including his political affiliations, when he applied for naturalization. His team argues that efforts to stretch political speech into a legal threat would face steep constitutional barriers, especially under the First Amendment’s guarantees of speech and association.
Legal experts note:
– Denaturalization cases are uncommon and hard to win because the government must prove a person lied about a material fact when applying for citizenship.
– Courts have long held that political beliefs and associations, absent fraud, don’t meet that legal test.
– The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy manual reflects that narrow view, and civil liberties lawyers say it would be difficult to convert lawful activism into grounds for stripping citizenship.
Readers can review the denaturalization standard in the USCIS Policy Manual: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-k.
Opponents’ claims and Mamdani’s response
Mamdani’s critics, including Republican lawmakers and MAGA-aligned figures, have tried to frame his activism as a risk to national security. He counters that such claims are thinly veiled attacks on immigrants and Muslims and add to a climate that treats political dissent as suspicion. He has urged the public to separate heated rhetoric from the legal standards the government must meet.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, attempts to link routine political activity to denaturalization have historically struggled in court because the law targets deception, not ideology.
Broader political and social implications
The stakes extend beyond one campaign. Advocacy groups say the targeting of Mamdani is part of a larger political cycle that uses fear to define who belongs in civic life.
- Equality Labs has tracked a rise in online hate directed at him, which the group says includes anti-Muslim tropes.
- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued statements backing Mamdani, calling the accusations Islamophobic and urging leaders to focus on policy rather than identity attacks.
For Muslim and immigrant families watching the race, the public fight is personal: if mainstream political speech can be cast as suspect, they worry their place in public life could be questioned too.
Community organizers recall earlier moments when campaign season brought spikes in harassment and threats. They warn that today’s tone risks chilling civic engagement — with some residents asking whether it is safe to attend rallies or speak at public meetings.
Campaign messaging and policy focus
As the rhetoric escalated online, Mamdani’s campaign framed the attacks as an effort to drown out his message on:
– Affordability
– Workers’ rights
– Immigrant inclusion
He has consistently said he will not temper his criticism of policies he sees as harmful, and he rejects suggestions that taking public positions on international issues is disqualifying. The campaign insists that his record is rooted in New York City neighborhoods and that attempts to redefine him through innuendo are meant to scare others from speaking up.
The campaign also highlights procedural facts about naturalization:
1. The base process for becoming a citizen involves filing Form N-400.
2. Mamdani’s camp says his application truthfully disclosed required details, including affiliations.
For reference, see the form on the USCIS site here: Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
They say any effort to reopen his file based on political speech would face strong legal challenges.
National figures and political amplification
The dispute has drawn in national figures. Mamdani says President Trump’s amplification of attacks from MAGA-aligned voices confirms the political goal behind the claims.
He argues accusations framed as “national security” concerns often mask efforts to narrow the bounds of acceptable politics, especially when the target is Muslim. His supporters say the accusations mimic past waves of suspicion that cast minority communities as threats, then fade when they meet legal scrutiny.
Opponents counter that security questions are fair game in any race, but Mamdani says fairness requires facts, not fear.
What’s at stake for the city
While the legal questions may be straightforward, the social and political fallout is not. Immigrant New Yorkers say the debate touches on daily life: a job application, a PTA meeting, or a city council hearing can feel different when national leaders suggest some citizens are less trustworthy.
Mamdani frames the attacks as a distraction from core issues:
– Rent and affordability
– Wages and jobs
– Transit and public safety
He links immigrant inclusion to these kitchen-table issues and argues that when politicians raise doubts about a candidate’s loyalty without evidence, they drain attention from policies that shape family budgets.
Closing message
In interviews, Mamdani returns to a consistent baseline: a promise to keep speaking plainly. He calls the allegations a test of whether a candidate from a Muslim and immigrant background can challenge powerful interests without being painted as a threat.
He says that test isn’t just about his campaign but about the future of a city built by newcomers and the rights of citizens who came to the ballot box through the same legal path he took.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Zohran Mamdani denounced claims questioning his citizenship as targeted political smears tied to his Muslim and South Asian identity. He insists his naturalization disclosures were complete, noting he has lived in the U.S. nearly three decades. Legal experts and civil-rights groups say denaturalization is rare, requiring proof of fraud or material misrepresentation; political views or lawful affiliations don’t meet that standard. Supporters warn the rhetoric chills immigrant participation and distracts from campaign priorities like housing, worker rights, and inclusion.
