WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 04: Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) talks to reporters after votes at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. Roy is headed for a runoff against Texas state Sen. Mayes Middleton for the Republican nomination to succeed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Senate is scheduled to vote on a Democratic-backed war powers resolution that would prevent President Donald Trump from continuing the military campaign against Iran. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

...

Adeola Adeosun

By Adeola Adeosun

Weekend Night Editor

0

Share

Newsweek is a Trust Project member

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.


A House Republican is introducing a new immigration bill that would make noncitizens who advocate for—or are affiliated with—socialist, communist, Marxist or Islamic fundamentalist movements inadmissible, deportable, denaturalizable and ineligible for naturalization.

Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy has dubbed his bill the "Mamdani Act" after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist.

The bill also create new deportation grounds for noncitizens already living in the United States.

Read More on Politics

Newsweek reached out to Mamdani's office via email on Monday for comment.

What Is the Mamdani Act? Read in Full

PDF

mamdani-act-text-roytx_126_xml.pdf.PDF

Download

Under the "Mamdani Act" deportation provisions, a noncitizen already in the United States could be removed if they engage in advocacy for socialism, communism, Marxism or Islamic fundamentalism, distribute or publish material promoting those ideologies or hold membership in affiliated organizations at any point after admission.

Crucially, the bill would strip courts of the ability to review any determination made under its provisions, meaning deportation, denaturalization or inadmissibility decisions would be final, with no avenue for legal challenge.

Roy told Breitbart News: "Why do we continue to import people who hate us? Not just for the last six years, but for the last 60 years, our immigration system has been cynically used to disadvantage American workers' competitiveness in favor of mass-importing the third world. This has not just led to higher crime and lower wages, but also the promulgation of hostile ideologies fundamentally opposed to American values. By targeting the Red-Green Alliance, this legislation deploys new tools to fight back against the Marxist and Islamist advance that has devastated Europe and has now arrived on our doorstep, especially in my home state of Texas."

Republican U.S. Representative Chip Roy of Texas talks to reporters after votes at the U.S. Capitol on March 4 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

...

The bill specifically cites Mamdani, arguing that his "very presence" and those "who champion Marxist ideologies" demonstrates how the immigration system "enables the mass importation of Marxists and Islamists."

Roy has previously described Mamdani as "very clearly an Islamist Marxist" and has called on the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to scrutinize his background, citing Mamdani's association with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, whom prosecutors included in a list of alleged unindicted co-conspirators in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

What Critics Are Saying

Theo Chino, First National Secretary of the Social Democrats of America, told Newsweek that he faxed a letter directly to Roy's congressional office on Monday, sarcastically noting that Roy had "forgot to include Social Democrats and Liberals in the MAMDANI Act."

Chino wrote that his organization runs monthly sessions "to teach ignorant Americans about the strong history of freedom within Socialism," and signed off saying he looked "forward to the passage of your bill so I can find more dumb Americans to educate about Socialism, since so many educated Socialists from around the world may no longer be able to enter our country."

Who Are The Co-Sponsors?

Who Is Zohran Mamdani?

Mamdani is the Democratic mayor of New York City and a self-described democratic socialist. Born in Uganda and raised in the United States, Mamdani was a state assemblyman before winning the mayoral race. He has been a prominent voice on housing, public transit and economic inequality in New York City and has drawn national attention—and conservative criticism—for his political views.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters during a news conference in New York, on February 17, 2026.

...

Who Are Zohran Mamdani's Parents?

Mamdani is the son of Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent Ugandan-American academic and political scientist who has taught at Columbia University and Makerere University in Uganda, and Mira Nair, the acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker known for directing films including Mississippi Masala and Monsoon Wedding. His parents are widely regarded as influential figures in their respective fields of academia and cinema.

What Is Democratic Socialism?

Democratic socialism is a political philosophy that advocates for a democratic political system alongside a socialist economic system—broadly meaning public or collective ownership of key industries and resources.

Democratic socialists distinguish themselves from authoritarian communist regimes by emphasizing that social and economic transformation should occur through democratic means, including elections and legislation, rather than revolution. Prominent democratic socialists in the United States include Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC).

The Mamdani Act does not distinguish between democratic socialism and authoritarian forms of socialism or communism in its inadmissibility provisions.

What Has Mamdani Done So Far?

Mamdani's first 100 days as New York City mayor have been marked by early momentum on some priorities and slower progress on others, according to a scorecard published by Vital City, a New York-focused policy publication that tracked 11 specific improvements it recommended the administration make without needing City Council or Albany approval.

On transportation, Mamdani's Department of Transportation revived stalled bus lane plans in the Bronx and Manhattan and launched a new Office of Curb Management aimed at reducing double-parking and delivery congestion. On homelessness, he created an Office of Community Safety within City Hall and appointed a deputy mayor for community safety, with early moves including a new 106-bed shelter in Lower Manhattan. On scaffolding—a persistent quality-of-life complaint—his Department of Buildings moved forward with new regulations to shorten time frames and increase enforcement, with a specific focus on New York City Housing Authority campuses.

Beyond day-to-day governance, Mamdani has advanced several signature policy pledges that drew national attention during his mayoral campaign. He has pushed for universal free child care for NYC families and the creation of city-owned grocery stores—a first-of-its-kind initiative in a major American city, aimed at lowering food costs for residents.

Both proposals reflect his democratic socialist platform and have drawn both enthusiasm from supporters and skepticism from fiscal conservatives who question their cost and feasibility.

What Happens Next

Roy has not announced a formal introduction date for the legislation.

Update 4/22/26, 7:03 a.m. ET: A list of co-sponsors was added

Update 4/21/26, 7:26 a.m. ET: The full text of the bill was added.

Update 4/20/26, 3:22 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 4/20/26, 5:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and comment.

View 0 Comments

Request Reprint & Licensing

Submit Correction

View Editorial & AI Guidelines