A United States congressman, Barry Moore, has introduced proposed legislation that would require immigrants entering the country as religious workers to formally renounce Sharia law and pledge allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
Moore disclosed the proposal on Wednesday in a post on X, where he announced a bill titled the “CRUSADE Act.”
According to the lawmaker, the legislation is aimed at ensuring that individuals entering the United States for religious work fully commit to constitutional principles. He argued that certain religious legal frameworks conflict with American democratic values.
“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 stated, adding that religious workers should “disavow Sharia and uphold the Constitution.”
Sharia law, derived from Islamic teachings, is applied in varying forms across several Muslim-majority countries and communities worldwide. However, interpretations and implementations differ significantly by region and legal system.
The U.S. Constitution, through its First Amendment, guarantees freedom of religion, and current immigration policies governing religious workers are regulated under federal law.
The proposal has emerged amid renewed political debate in the United States over Islamic law, constitutional interpretation, and concerns raised by some advocacy groups regarding the compatibility of Sharia principles with American legal structures.
The discussion also follows growing attention around the “Sharia-Free America” movement, which argues that political Islam and Sharia-based governance are incompatible with U.S. constitutional values.
Earlier this year, U.S. lawmakers also initiated a review of Nigeria’s religious freedom conditions, following allegations of religious persecution in parts of the country. The review was linked to Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern under the administration of former President Donald Trump, citing reported violence against Christians.
Members of Congress, including Riley Moore and Chris Smith, have since supported the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, aimed at addressing alleged religious persecution and improving protections for vulnerable communities.
The lawmakers have also proposed closer security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria, focusing on counterterrorism efforts and the protection of religious minorities.
In Nigeria, Sharia and anti-blasphemy laws are currently enforced in about 12 northern states, a subject that continues to draw both domestic debate and international scrutiny over religious freedom and legal rights.
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