Rep. Keith Self of Texas issued a forceful warning about what he describes as the growing influence of Sharia law in the United States, calling it a direct threat to the Constitution and the nation’s legal framework. “There is nothing theoretical about the threat of Sharia in America. We have already seen its consequences play out in parts of Europe—now the same ideology is being pushed here,” Self said. “America is governed by the Constitution and the rule of law. If you reject those principles, leave.”
There is nothing theoretical about the threat of Sharia in America.
— Rep. Keith Self (@RepKeithSelf) February 17, 2026
We have already seen its consequences play out in parts of Europe—now the same ideology is being pushed here.
America is governed by the Constitution and the rule of law. If you reject those principles, leave. pic.twitter.com/pKWJFzEid9
“Because it’s exploding across America,” Self said, describing the scope of what he calls the Sharia movement in the country. He pointed to Texas as “ground zero,” noting efforts to establish Muslim-only compounds and cities. “For some reason, they believe they have reached the tipping point where they will now be so accommodated that they can start intimidation,” he said. Self emphasized that the caucus’s mission is to raise awareness among Congress and the public and to promote legislation that he believes will protect the Constitution.
Self framed Sharia as an alternative legal system that conflicts with American principles of individual freedom. “This is an alternate legal construct that they have, where our system is based on individual freedoms, individual rights given to us by our creator. Sharia is a legal construct that says you will submit to this very draconian legal construct. It’s an alternative political system with a thin veneer of religion,” he said. He added that “we cannot have separate, incompatible legal systems ruling America. The U.S. Constitution rules every square inch of America.”
The congressman also highlighted legislation introduced to bar American courts from recognizing Sharia court decrees or judgments. He said this step is critical to ensuring that U.S. law remains uniform across the country. “If we ever allow that, then we will have separate but incompatible legal systems in America,” Self said. He framed the issue as a defense of the nation’s republican form of government, emphasizing self-governance and adherence to constitutional principles.
The Sharia Free America Caucus, co-founded by Self and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, has grown rapidly since its inception on December 18, 2025. Initially comprising 26 members from 17 states, the caucus now counts 40 members, including prominent Republican figures such as Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota and Reps. Brandon Gill of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, and Byron Donalds of Florida. The caucus’s stated mission is to oppose the introduction of Sharia principles into U.S. legal and civic systems, defend the Constitution, and preserve what its members describe as the nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage.
🚨 The Sharia Free America Caucus has now reached 40 members!
— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) February 17, 2026
Sharia law has no place in America, not now or ever.
“The Sharia Free America Caucus has now reached 40 members! Sharia law has no place in America, not now or ever,” Roy said, underscoring the caucus’s expansion and growing support among House Republicans. Both Roy and Self have repeatedly emphasized that the caucus represents a legislative and cultural response to perceived threats from Sharia, arguing that the ideology undermines religious freedom, promotes unequal treatment of non-Muslims, and subjugates women and children.
Self described the caucus’s formation as a rapid response to a growing concern among members of Congress. “The response has been tremendous, far more than we expected, faster than we expected. People are starting to be aware that they can now talk about this. It’s not just something that they have to keep silent about,” he said. The caucus, according to its founders, aims to educate lawmakers and the public, promote legislation preventing Sharia-based rulings in U.S. courts, and safeguard the principles of the Constitution.
As congressional attention turns to issues Self and his colleagues identify as critical to national security and legal integrity, the Sharia Free America Caucus represents a focused effort to assert what its members describe as American legal and cultural norms. The group continues to grow in membership and visibility, reflecting a broader debate in the House over the role of foreign legal systems, religious law, and the boundaries of constitutional governance in the United States.
