Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama warned that “radical Islam is not a religion. It is a political organization run by terrorists” during remarks at a hearing alongside House members affiliated with the Sharia Free America Caucus, framing the issue as an internal threat to the United States and urging lawmakers to respond more forcefully.

“Radical Islam is not a religion” pic.twitter.com/SfBTFci5AJ

— American Gazzete (@AmericanGazzete) February 7, 2026

Tuberville opened by thanking House members for their participation while lamenting the absence of more senators, calling the caucus “very, very important” and predicting it would grow. He described the moment as urgent, telling Americans to “wake up” and asserting that the country faces an enemy “inside the gates.” Tuberville argued that the United States, after more than 250 years, is facing a growing challenge that requires a broader political response.

Throughout his remarks, Tuberville characterized radical Islam as a political movement rather than a faith, saying it is “run by terrorists” and claiming it is actively working to undermine American society. He said Islamic extremism is infiltrating the United States and refusing to assimilate, alleging that some extremists have openly stated an intent to harm Americans and destroy the country. “This is not a secret,” Tuberville said.

Tuberville repeatedly distinguished between Muslims who he said seek to assimilate into American culture and those who he accused of adhering to Sharia law. He said Muslims who do not practice Sharia law and want to assimilate are welcome in the United States, while criticizing what he described as “woke cities” for replacing American civic norms with radical Islamic policies. He pointed to Minneapolis as an example, noting the city’s decision to allow amplified Islamic calls to prayer year-round and arguing that the practice was intended to assert visibility and influence.

The senator also raised concerns about immigration from Muslim-majority countries, asserting that the number of Muslims living in the United States is growing and linking that trend to what he described as cultural and security risks. He cited allegations of large-scale fraud involving Somali immigrants and argued that immigration from “third-world” countries threatens American traditions and values.

Tuberville’s comments come as some Republicans are pushing for stricter immigration policies tied specifically to Somalia. Rep. Brandon Gill, a Republican from Texas, introduced the Somalia Immigration Moratorium Act, which would impose a 25-year suspension on new immigration relief for Somali nationals while allowing those already in the United States to retain their legal status. Gill said the legislation is intended to address what he described as the negative impacts of mass immigration from Somalia. “This is a simple recognition that mass immigration from Somalia doesn’t make the United States better off,” Gill said.

Mass Somali immigration makes life worse for Americans. That’s why I filed a bill today to stop it. https://t.co/unEekWdUTN

— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) February 4, 2026

Gill pointed to a 2025 report from the Center for Immigration Studies that found high levels of welfare usage among Somali immigrant households. According to the report, 81 percent of Somali immigrant households nationwide receive some form of welfare assistance. In Minnesota, which has the largest Somali population in the country, the report found that 73 percent of Somali households have at least one member on Medicaid and 54 percent receive food stamps, rates Gill said were significantly higher than those among native-born households.

Returning to broader themes, Tuberville argued that radical Islam is fundamentally incompatible with the American way of life and warned that Europe offers an example of what happens when governments fail to confront the issue. He claimed European countries have lost their way of life and suggested that reclaiming it would require unrest and confrontation, something he said the United States must prevent by acting now.

Anticipating criticism, Tuberville dismissed accusations of Islamophobia, saying he was motivated by his love of the country and its Christian heritage. He credited President Donald Trump with prioritizing restrictions on both illegal and legal immigration from certain regions and said those efforts were necessary to preserve American culture. Tuberville concluded by urging lawmakers and supporters to be vocal and organized, saying the country owes it to past generations and to future ones to stop what he described as a growing ideological threat.