Here's a new way to think about immigration policy: What if the U.S. could deny you entry, deport you, or even strip your citizenship not because of what you did, but because of what you believe?
That's essentially the proposal from Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who introduced legislation on Monday that would restrict immigration and citizenship based on ideological affiliations. The bill—called the Measures Against Marxism's Dangerous Adherents and Noxious Islamists (MAMDANI) Act of 2026—immediately sparked debate over where national security ends and civil liberties begin.
The legislation would expand federal authority to take action against non-citizens associated with socialist or communist parties (including the Chinese Communist Party) and groups labeled as Islamic fundamentalists. It would also bar citizenship for individuals who advocate for socialism, communism, Marxism, or "similar ideologies," while creating new legal definitions and tightening existing immigration rules.
"Why do we continue to import people who hate us?" Roy said in a statement. He argued that current immigration policies have been used "to disadvantage American workers' competitiveness" and enable the spread of "hostile ideologies fundamentally opposed to American values."
Roy also pointed to what he described as the "Red-Green Alliance"—alleged cooperation between Marxist and Islamist movements—which he claims poses a growing ideological threat.
The bill found at least one supporter in Grant Newman of the Immigration Accountability Project, who said, "Admission to the United States is a privilege, not a right… A sovereign nation must prioritize its own survival and the safety of its citizens above all else." He added, "IAP is proud to stand with Congressman Roy in this effort."
This isn't Roy's first foray into immigration and ideology. Back in October, he introduced the "Sharia-Free America Act," which sought to bar foreign nationals who follow Sharia law from entering or remaining in the United States. He's also previously backed the SAVE Act, a proposal supported by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
The MAMDANI Act is likely to face significant legal and political challenges—tying immigration status to political and religious beliefs walks a fine line with the First Amendment, among other things. But for now, it's a concrete proposal that reframes the immigration debate around ideology, not just borders.
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