House Republicans unveiled the Sharia Free America Caucus on Tuesday, declaring Islamic law incompatible with the US Constitution and a threat to American values. Co-chaired by Representatives Keith Self and Chip Roy of Texas, the group aims to block Sharia's influence through legislation and policy. Critics label the initiative discriminatory against Muslims.
On Tuesday, House Republicans introduced the Sharia Free America Caucus during its inaugural press conference, positioning it as a bulwark against what members see as the encroachment of Islamic law into US governance. The caucus, led by Representatives Keith Self (R-TX) and Chip Roy (R-TX), argues that Sharia principles undermine constitutional freedoms and Western norms, particularly through immigration and cultural shifts.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined the event, likening radical Islam to a pervasive cult that dominates daily life and requires defense of American traditions. Roy reinforced this view, 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 pointed to local changes in Texas, noting the construction of 20 new mosques in North Texas over the past two years. He described scenarios where communities might restrict police access or enforce selective property transactions based on Sharia-like rules, saying, “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.”
The caucus endorses measures like the “No Sharia Legislation,” which would bar immigration perks for Sharia proponents, and supports Texas Proposition 10, a March ballot initiative to curb Sharia's sway in the state. Self cited the Trump administration's recent labeling of Muslim Brotherhood affiliates as terrorist groups as progress aligning with their goals.
Other members, such as Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Representative Mary Miller (R-IL), framed the effort as protecting constitutional rule, not targeting faiths. Donalds asserted, “Sharia has no place in America. We will not surrender our freedoms,” while Miller vowed to oppose “this radical ideology that seeks to uproot the constitutional principles and Christian values on which our nation was founded.”
Supporters view the caucus as essential for national security and religious liberty debates, though opponents decry it as anti-Muslim bias. Leaders stress grounding actions in US legal history to advance their agenda amid rising immigration and security concerns.
