Republicans Take Stand Against Sharia Law With New House Caucus

House Republicans held the debut press conference of the Sharia Free America Caucus on Tuesday, warning that Islamic law is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, and that its influence poses a growing threat to American law and culture.

The caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Keith Self (R-TX) and Chip Roy (R-TX), levels sharp criticism at what lawmakers described as the spread of Sharia-based practices through immigration and cultural accommodation. Supporters say the group will focus on preventing Sharia law from gaining any foothold in U.S. governance, while critics have condemned the effort as discriminatory toward Muslims.

At the press conference, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) described “radical Islam” as a “cult that has taken over every second of every day,” framing the caucus’s work as a defense of the American way of life. Co-chair Roy emphasized the constitutional implications, stating, “Sharia is a direct threat to our Constitution and Western values and seeks to replace our legal system and erode our basic freedoms.”

Self highlighted the growth of Muslim communities in Texas, pointing to 20 new mosques in North Texas over the past two years. “First of all, it would be simply, ‘We want a community.’ Then the police can’t come in. And the contracts, the covenants of the area say that you may buy if you’re the right kind of person, you may sell to the right kind of person,” he said, describing what he called a creeping influence of Sharia principles.

The caucus also supports legislative measures, including “No Sharia Legislation,” designed to prevent special immigration benefits for individuals advocating Sharia law, and backing Texas’s Proposition 10, a March ballot measure aimed at restricting Sharia influence in the state. Self noted the Trump administration’s recent designation of Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations as a milestone for the caucus’s objectives.

Prominent members, including Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), emphasized the caucus’s mission as a defense of constitutional governance rather than a target against religious communities. Donalds declared, “Sharia has no place in America. We will not surrender our freedoms,” while Miller said she would “stand firmly against this radical ideology that seeks to uproot the constitutional principles and Christian values on which our nation was founded.”

While the caucus’s rhetoric is fiery, its leaders acknowledge that translating concern into law will be key. By focusing on policies grounded in historical American jurisprudence, Republicans aim to ensure their legislative efforts align with constitutional authority while addressing what they see as an ideological threat.

As debates over immigration, national security, and religious freedom intensify, the Sharia Free America Caucus positions Republicans to proactively safeguard constitutional governance and protect American legal and cultural norms. How the caucus addresses the issue at hand will dictate its success in that mission.