A member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Barry Moore, has proposed a controversial bill that would require immigrants entering the United States as religious workers to formally reject Sharia law and pledge loyalty to the U.S. Constitution.
Moore disclosed this in a post on X on Wednesday while announcing the introduction of the proposed legislation known as the “CRUSADE Act.”
According to the Republican lawmaker, the bill seeks to prevent the promotion of religious ideologies he believes are inconsistent with American constitutional principles.
“Sharia law justifies the persecution of religious minorities, restrictions on women, and the elevation of religious law above all. This is why I introduced the CRUSADE Act,” Moore wrote.
“Immigrants entering our nation as religious workers should disavow sharia and uphold the Constitution,” he added.
Sharia law, derived from Islamic religious teachings, is practised in different forms across several Muslim-majority countries and communities worldwide. The proposal has already triggered debate among civil rights advocates, religious groups and constitutional scholars in the United States.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion under the First Amendment, while religious worker visas and immigration processes are regulated through federal immigration laws.
The proposed legislation comes amid growing political discussions in the United States surrounding Islam, religious freedom and national security.
A recent congressional hearing on the expanding “Sharia-Free America” movement further intensified debates over whether political Islam and Sharia law are compatible with American constitutional democracy.
Supporters of the movement argue that aspects of Sharia law conflict with the U.S. legal system, while critics say such measures unfairly target Muslims and risk violating constitutional protections on religious freedom.
The development also comes months after the United States launched an assessment of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom standards over reports of attacks and persecution of Christians in parts of the country.
The initiative followed Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern under former U.S. President Donald Trump, citing concerns over religious persecution.
The campaign was championed by Riley Moore and Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee.
Both lawmakers introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, aimed at addressing religious violence and protecting vulnerable communities in Nigeria.
Among the recommendations put forward was a proposed U.S.–Nigeria security partnership designed to protect Christian communities and combat extremist networks.
Nigeria currently operates Sharia and anti-blasphemy laws in about 12 northern states, a situation that has continued to draw international attention and criticism from some Western lawmakers and advocacy groups.
“Blasphemy laws in Nigeria’s northern states are used to silence speech and dissent, target Christians and minorities, and justify so-called ‘convictions’ without due process,” the U.S. lawmakers said.
