A United States congressman, Barry Moore, has proposed legislation requiring immigrants entering the country as religious workers to formally reject Sharia law and pledge allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
Moore announced the proposed bill, titled the “CRUSADE Act,” in a post on X on Wednesday.
According to the lawmaker, the legislation is intended to prevent the promotion of religious doctrines he believes conflict with American constitutional values.
“Sharia law justifies the persecution of religious minorities, restrictions on women, and the elevation of religious law above all,” Moore wrote. “Immigrants entering our nation as religious workers should disavow sharia and uphold the Constitution.”
Sharia law, derived from Islamic religious principles, is practised in varying forms across several Muslim-majority countries and communities worldwide.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion under the First Amendment, while immigration policies for religious workers are governed by federal immigration laws and visa regulations.
The proposal comes amid renewed debate in the United States over the role of Islam and constitutional law following a congressional hearing on the growing “Sharia-Free America” movement.
Supporters of the movement argue that political Islam and Sharia law are incompatible with the U.S. Constitution and American legal principles.
Earlier this year, the United States began assessing Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom standards over concerns about the persecution of Christians in the country.
The move followed Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern by President Donald Trump over alleged religious persecution.
The initiative was backed by Riley Moore and Chris Smith who introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.
The proposed legislation seeks to address religious persecution in Nigeria and includes recommendations such as a U.S.-Nigeria security partnership aimed at protecting vulnerable Christian communities and combating extremist groups.
Nigeria currently operates Sharia and anti-blasphemy laws in 12 northern states.
The U.S. lawmakers argued that blasphemy laws in northern Nigeria have been used to suppress dissent, target minorities and deny due process.
