Trump Administration Expands Travel Ban to Include Uganda, Raising Concerns for NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani

New York, July 21, 2025 — The Trump administration’s recent expansion of its travel ban to include Uganda has sparked widespread debate, particularly as it intersects with the political trajectory of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. Mamdani, who announced a personal trip to Uganda to celebrate his recent marriage, now faces scrutiny amid speculation about whether the ban could prevent his re-entry into the United States.

On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump enacted a travel ban targeting 19 countries, with a subsequent State Department memo on June 16 warning 36 additional nations, including Uganda, to improve vetting processes or face restrictions by August. The expanded ban, affecting countries like Angola, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, aims to address national security concerns but has been criticized as overly broad and discriminatory, particularly targeting African nations. Uganda’s inclusion stems from alleged deficiencies in its vetting procedures according to a Reuters report.

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York State Assembly member born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. His trip to Uganda, announced on July 20, 2025, via a video posted on X and Bluesky, was framed as a personal visit to celebrate his February 2025 marriage to Rama Duwaji. In the video, Mamdani playfully addressed xenophobic critics urging him to “go back to Africa,” suggesting mock headlines like “M.I.A.: Mamdani in Africa” for the New York Post. He assured supporters he would return by the end of July to resume his mayoral campaign.

However, the timing of his trip coincides with heightened political attacks and the expanded travel ban. On July 1, 2025, President Trump falsely claimed Mamdani was “here illegally” during a press conference at a Florida migrant detention center dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” threatening to arrest him if he interfered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Republican figures, including Representative Andy Ogles and the New York Young Republican Club, have called for Mamdani’s denaturalization and deportation, citing his democratic socialist views and past activism, including his refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” and a rap song referencing support for a foundation linked to Hamas.

These claims, described by Democratic Senator Chris Murphy as “racist bullshit,” lack evidence of legal grounds for denaturalization, which requires proof of material fraud in citizenship applications, per legal experts cited by Al Jazeera.

Such actions would face significant legal hurdles, as the Supreme Court has historically limited denaturalization to cases involving war crimes or terrorism, not political beliefs. Michael Kagan, a law professor at the University of Nevada, told TIME that such rhetoric is likely “irresponsible” and aimed at intimidating political opponents rather than being legally feasible.

Mamdani responded to earlier threats on July 2, 2025, stating, “The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp and deported. Not because I have broken any law but because I will refuse to let ICE terrorize our city.” New York Governor Kathy Hochul also defended Mamdani, posting on X, “If you threaten to unlawfully go after one of our neighbors, you’re picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers — starting with me.”

17GEN4.com