Republican Representative Randy Fine has seized on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent remarks on immigration and Islam as hypocritical. Fine highlighted that while Mamdani referenced Islamic principles of welcoming strangers, non-Muslims are barred from visiting Mecca, pointing to what he described as a double standard. “This is pretty rich coming from people that say if you’re not Muslim, you can’t go to Mecca,” Fine said, framing the mayor’s remarks as inconsistent with American values.
My words are coming true.
— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) February 9, 2026
Mamdani recently said that under Islam, we need to let unlimited amounts of illegals into America.
This is pretty rich coming from people that say if you’re not Muslim, you can’t go to Mecca.
They traffic in lies and dishonesty.
We can see this on… pic.twitter.com/VoFhozjKR7
Mamdani, who is the first Muslim and African-born mayor of New York City, made his comments earlier this week at the city’s annual interfaith breakfast. In prepared remarks, he urged Americans to look to Islamic teachings and the migration of the Prophet Muhammad as a moral framework for immigration policy. “Islam is a religion built upon a narrative of migration,” Mamdani said, referencing the Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina as an example of welcoming those who arrive as strangers. He added that religious traditions share a responsibility to “stand alongside the stranger,” linking that principle directly to contemporary immigration debates.
NYC Mayor Mamdani says America should look to Islam and the prophet Muhammad to support migration.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 6, 2026
pic.twitter.com/Cjd7kfIkz2
At the same event, Mamdani signed an executive order reinforcing New York City’s sanctuary city policies. According to a statement from City Hall, the order reaffirms the city’s status as a sanctuary jurisdiction and directs municipal agencies to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in the absence of judicial warrants. The order prohibits federal officers from entering certain city facilities without a warrant and expands privacy protections for city residents. City officials also announced plans to distribute multilingual materials outlining residents’ rights during encounters with immigration authorities, which Mamdani said were designed to reduce fear in immigrant communities.
Representative Fine issued a separate statement targeting Mamdani personally, saying, “It’s clear that Mamdani has NO RESPECT for America or our Constitutional values. We need to denaturalize and deport HIM as soon as possible.” The comments came amid renewed national focus on Mamdani’s public remarks on immigration and religion, as well as resurfaced statements from his family that have intensified debate over identity, governance, and the role of faith in public life
It’s clear that Mamdani has NO RESPECT for America or our Constitutional values.
— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) February 6, 2026
We need to denaturalize and deport HIM as soon as possible.
The controversy has gained renewed attention following the resurfacing of statements by Mamdani’s family. In a 2013 interview, filmmaker Mira Nair, Mamdani’s mother, described him as deeply rooted in the family’s cultural background, stating that he was “not an American at all” and adding, “we are not firangs at all. He is very much us.” These comments have amplified scrutiny of Mamdani’s identity as the youngest mayor of New York City in more than a century and the first Muslim to hold the office, especially as he advances policies related to immigration and interfaith engagement.
Mamdani’s remarks and subsequent executive actions underscore the ongoing national debate over immigration, sanctuary cities, and the role of religious and cultural identity in political leadership. As the first African-born Muslim mayor of one of the nation’s largest cities, his approach continues to draw both acclaim and criticism, highlighting the tensions between personal conviction, public responsibility, and national constitutional norms.
