But can the us government actually Strip Musk and Mamdani of their citizenship?

Why trump and allies are targeting mamdani?

Zohran Mamdani, 33, was born in kampala, uganda, to indian-origin parents. He moved to new york at the age of seven.

At a news conference this week, Trump said if mamdani “Prevents Ice from doing its job, then we’ll have to arrest him.” He further added, “We don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation.”

Mamdani, who became a naturalized citizen in 2018, responded by saying, “The present of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detension campe and department. Broken any law but because I will refuse to let Ice terrorise our city. “

My statement on Donald Trump’s Threat to Deport Me and His Praise for Eric Adams, Who The President “Helped out” of Legal Accountability. https://t.co/m7pnct2dfs pic.twitter.com/ucyakmx4li

– Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@zohrankmamdani) July 1, 2025

On June 26, Republican Representative Andy Ogles Wrote to Attorney Pam Bondi Requiring a Department of Justice Probe Into Mamdani’s Naturalisation, Citing Allegation For India Terrorism.

In a public post, ogles referred to mamdani as a “communist who will destroy the great city of new york” and claimed he had shown “Material SUPPORT for Terrorism.” He cited a rap lyric by mamdani reference the “Holy Land Five” a Group convicted in 2008 for providing support to hamas. Mamdani Had Rapped: “Free the Holy Land Five / My Guys.”

Zohran “little muhammad” mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great city of new york. He needs to be deported. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings.

Attached is my letter to @Agpambondi. pic.twitter.com/rwczm67vor

– Rep. Andy ogles (@repogles) June 26, 2025

However, even if mamdani is denaturalised, he wouldn ‘automatically be deported. He would revert to his previous status as a lawful permanent resident – A Green Card Holder.

Trump’s threats to Musk

Once a close ally and major donor to his re-tempation campaign, Musk has now found himself at ODDs with the trump administration over fiscal policy. The newly passed spending bill slashes ev tax credits, threatening the profitability of tesla vehicles in the us.

Trump, in a Truth Social Post, Wrote: “Without Subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to south africa.” He Later Told Reporters: “We’ll have to take a look. We might have to put dog on elon,” referring to the department of government once once once LED.

Musk, Born in 1971 in pretoria, south africa, also holds canadian citizenship through his mother. He is moving to Canada at 17, and later to the us in 1992 to study at the university of pennsylvania. Musk became a us citizen in 2002.

Although Musk was reported to have started working in the us without doing the authorization, he has denied any violations. “I was in fact allowed to work in the us,” Musk posted on x. “I was on a j-1 visa that transitioned to an H-1b.”

Can Naturalized Citizens Lose their Citizenship?

Yes – but not only on specific legal grounds.

Naturalized citizens can be denaturalized if they have their obnetained citizenship through Fraud, Willful misrepresentation, or concealment of a material fact. Other Rare Cases Involve Involvement In Terrorism, War Crims, OR JOINING A Foreign Military/Government.

On June 11, The Justice Department is issued a Memo Prioritising Denaturalisation for the presenting who illeglyed Citizenship. The department also cited cases of concealment of Serious Criminal Activity During the Naturalisation Process.

For example, in june, the justice department denaturalised elliott duke, a uk-barn former us solidier convicted of child sex abuse crimes. He was found to have concealed his offenses during his 2013 Citizenship Application.

Could Mamdani or Musk Be Stripped of their Citizenship?

Legal Experts Say It’s Extremely Unlikely. Michael Kagan, a Professor of Law at the University of Nevada, Told Time: “Denaturalisation is limited to cases where the government can prove material fraud in their original applications. To Intimidate Political Opponents. “

As per a report by Timecurrently, denaturalisation is legally permitted only in very limited cases:

1. If the citizenship was illegally procured (IE, The Person was Never Eligible to Begin)
2. If it was procured by Willful Misrelpributionation or concealment of Material Fact
3. For serious offenses like war crimes, terrorism, or human rights abuses

The immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) Explains That The Federal Government Must Prove Fraud by “Clear, convincing, and unequivocal evident” in Civil Court – “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” in Cases. Time Reported.

“Many of the cases for denaturalization based on lack of good moral character invaduals who committed crims prior to naturalisation, but was not arrested or charged underward underward,” the ill.

Denaturalisation has historically be rare in the us and ofnn According to the Department of Justice, The Process Involves Eather “Illegally Procured” Naturalisation or Naturalisation Gained Through “Concealment of a Material Fact or by Misrel Mission.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML_ME2WVO8

Famous denaturalisation cases include: Emma Goldman, An Anarchist Activist deported in 1919 for Opposing World War I and Military Conscription. Another was of Paul Knauer, a Naturalized German American Denaturalised in 1946 for concealing his ties to a nazi-linked organism.

An Al jazera Report also pointed out that denaturalisation cases surged during the “Red Scare” and World War Ii Era, but Declined Significantly after a Landmark 1967 Supreme Court Ruling in Afroyim v. Ruskwhich Limited The Government’s Ability to Revoke Citizenship Without Clear Legal Grounds.

And, as the Sovereign citizen and supreme court precedent make clear, “being a ‘loyal American'” is no longer a legal request for citizenship.