Representative Chip Roy of Texas and a growing coalition of House Republicans introduced legislation that would prohibit individuals who adhere to Sharia law from entering the United States and mandate the deportation of any such individuals currently in the country, citing what they describe as an “existential threat” to American constitutional principles.
Sweeping Immigration Restrictions Target Religious Law
The proposed law gives the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Attorney General complete power to block immigration benefits and visa access and entry for anyone who follows Sharia law. The law requires immigration benefit cancellation and US deportation for all people who practice Islamic legal principles.
Roy supports the legislation because he believes it protects both the American legal system and constitutional principles during his run for Texas attorney general. The legislation establishes penalties through federal perjury laws for people who lie about following Sharia law.
Roy declared through a Fox News press release that Sharia Law presents an existential danger to America because it continues to expand across the nation. The American way of life faces danger from Sharia Law followers who operate throughout Texas and all states because they aim to replace our legal framework and Constitution with an incompatible system that restricts women’s rights and children’s rights and discriminates against followers of different faiths.
European Model Cited as Warning
The Texas congressman used European Muslim immigration experiences to warn about potential dangers for American immigration policy. According to Fox News, Roy stated that European countries show how Sharia law expansion leads to Western cultural decline.
“America’s immigration system must be fortified to counter the importation of Sharia adherents – the preservation of our constitutional republic and its people depend on it.”
— Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), according to Fox News
The law reveals broader right-wing concerns about the compatibility of Islamic law with American legal frameworks and constitutional principles, particularly regarding female rights and religious freedoms.
Growing Republican Coalition Backs Measure
The bill has attracted significant support within the House Republican caucus, with original cosponsors including Representatives Randy Fine of Florida, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, and Keith Self of Texas. Additional lawmakers have since joined the effort, including Representatives Barry Moore of Alabama, Mary Miller of Illinois, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
Other cosponsors listed on Congress.gov include Representatives Sheri Biggs of South Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, and Andrew Clyde of Georgia, demonstrating support spanning multiple regions and conservative constituencies.
Legal and Constitutional Questions
The proposed law raises multiple constitutional concerns because it infringes upon both First Amendment religious freedom protections and equal protection rights. Legal experts who analyze religious accommodation through secular legal frameworks agree that the Supreme Court has established civil law as the highest authority for creating public policy.
The proposed law requires federal agencies to establish Sharia law compliance standards, which would result in complex administrative and legal procedures. The federal courts have examined multiple immigration rules based on religious criteria, resulting in constitutional challenges.
Political Context and Electoral Implications
The legislation aligns with Roy’s Texas attorney general campaign because it establishes him as a leading conservative advocate for immigration and religious matters. The bill’s introduction aligns with the Republican Party's efforts to promote immigration policies and cultural preservation strategies, which have proven successful among conservative voters in recent elections. The bill’s uncertain congressional fate exists because immigration bills often face strong opposition from both political parties.
The increasing number of Republican supporters indicates the bill could function as a platform for discussing immigration screening and cultural assimilation requirements among conservatives. The bill stands as the most direct congressional attempt to resolve conflicts between Muslim law and American legal systems, which could lead to future congressional debates about religious accommodations and immigration rules.