Texas Republicans Launch ‘Sharia Free America Caucus’ in Defense of Western Values

Paul Riverbank, 12/19/2025Texas GOP launches “Sharia Free America Caucus,” igniting fierce debate over law, faith, and national identity.

Self, a former military man with evident conviction, seems eager to bring the fight—to use his own phrasing—straight to the public. “When you go up against a threat,” he told a group of reporters, “you take every ally along.” Chip Roy, too, doesn’t mince words: he paints Sharia law as an immediate, even existential, menace lurking beneath the surface of current immigration and refugee debates. Both men insist that they see real cases here in the United States, not just imported anxieties from Europe.

Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, never known for reticence, joined in with even fiercer language this week—stirring up controversy (not only among Muslims) by describing Islam in incendiary terms. He referenced terror incidents abroad as cautionary tales for Americans—though he didn’t cite particular examples domestically. If the purpose was to provoke discussion, mission accomplished; few topics ignite more instantaneous pushback in Washington.

So, what exactly is on the table? The caucus isn’t stopping at statements. Its founders are pushing two legislative proposals: a ban blocking foreign nationals who “adhere to Sharia” from entering the U.S., and a bid to officially designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. As of now, both measures find themselves lodged in committee, and given the make-up of Congress this year, they have a steep climb ahead.

A little context, for those who haven’t followed this debate before: Sharia is a broad term, meaning different things to different people. To some, it’s a personal code of ethics—guidance on charity, daily conduct, and prayer. For others, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia or Iran, it’s the actual law of the land, including harsh penalties that would never fly under the Bill of Rights. Here in the States, the worry voiced by the new caucus points abroad, particularly to social unrest in places like France and the UK, where clashes around integration and identity continue to make headlines.

Legally speaking, however, the U.S. courts have been absolutely clear: the Constitution rules. No religious code, Islamic or otherwise, trumps American law. That doesn’t stop the rhetoric on the Hill, though.

Critics have been quick to line up. Civil liberties groups, many mainstream Muslim organizations, and not a few constitutional scholars warn that bills like these risk fueling fear and misunderstanding rather than addressing any proven threat. “The notion that Sharia law is poised to replace American law is, frankly, a fantasy,” noted one legal analyst for a national cable network, summing up what seems to be the dominant view outside the caucus itself.

Of course, that doesn’t guarantee these debates will die down anytime soon. With passions running high and primaries looming in several states, the “Sharia Free America Caucus” could end up being little more than a talking point—or, who knows, it could pick up steam and force a broader reckoning with how the country defines its own core values.

For the moment, the whole episode stands as a prime example of how symbolic politics and real-world anxieties continue to shape the conversation in Washington. Whether this new group is a fleeting headline or the beginning of a new front in America’s ongoing culture wars remains an open question.

There’s a new player on Capitol Hill, and it’s making noise well before its first meeting even takes place. Over in Texas, Representatives Keith Self and Chip Roy—both Republicans, no strangers to combative rhetoric—have kicked off what they’re calling the “Sharia Free America Caucus.” The name alone is drawing attention, setting off a fresh round of clashes over religion, national identity, and where the boundaries of American values truly sit.Self, a former military man with evident conviction, seems eager to bring the fight—to use his own phrasing—straight to the public. “When you go up against a threat,” he told a group of reporters, “you take every ally along.” Chip Roy, too, doesn’t mince words: he paints Sharia law as an immediate, even existential, menace lurking beneath the surface of current immigration and refugee debates. Both men insist that they see real cases here in the United States, not just imported anxieties from Europe.Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, never known for reticence, joined in with even fiercer language this week—stirring up controversy (not only among Muslims) by describing Islam in incendiary terms. He referenced terror incidents abroad as cautionary tales for Americans—though he didn’t cite particular examples domestically. If the purpose was to provoke discussion, mission accomplished; few topics ignite more instantaneous pushback in Washington.So, what exactly is on the table? The caucus isn’t stopping at statements. Its founders are pushing two legislative proposals: a ban blocking foreign nationals who “adhere to Sharia” from entering the U.S., and a bid to officially designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. As of now, both measures find themselves lodged in committee, and given the make-up of Congress this year, they have a steep climb ahead.A little context, for those who haven’t followed this debate before: Sharia is a broad term, meaning different things to different people. To some, it’s a personal code of ethics—guidance on charity, daily conduct, and prayer. For others, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia or Iran, it’s the actual law of the land, including harsh penalties that would never fly under the Bill of Rights. Here in the States, the worry voiced by the new caucus points abroad, particularly to social unrest in places like France and the UK, where clashes around integration and identity continue to make headlines.Legally speaking, however, the U.S. courts have been absolutely clear: the Constitution rules. No religious code, Islamic or otherwise, trumps American law. That doesn’t stop the rhetoric on the Hill, though.Critics have been quick to line up. Civil liberties groups, many mainstream Muslim organizations, and not a few constitutional scholars warn that bills like these risk fueling fear and misunderstanding rather than addressing any proven threat. “The notion that Sharia law is poised to replace American law is, frankly, a fantasy,” noted one legal analyst for a national cable network, summing up what seems to be the dominant view outside the caucus itself.Of course, that doesn’t guarantee these debates will die down anytime soon. With passions running high and primaries looming in several states, the “Sharia Free America Caucus” could end up being little more than a talking point—or, who knows, it could pick up steam and force a broader reckoning with how the country defines its own core values.For the moment, the whole episode stands as a prime example of how symbolic politics and real-world anxieties continue to shape the conversation in Washington. Whether this new group is a fleeting headline or the beginning of a new front in America’s ongoing culture wars remains an open question.