The Trump administration believes Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota “definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America,” Vice President JD Vance said in a podcast interview Friday.
“She has been at the center of a lot of the worst fraudsters at the center of the Somali community,” Vance said on Benny Johnson’s podcast.
Omar’s office pushed back on the allegations, and no evidence of immigration fraud has been publicly presented.
Connor McNutt, Omar’s chief of staff, dismissed the claim in a statement shared with Newsweek, calling it “a ridiculous lie” and “a desperate attempt to distract” from political issues. Omar has not been charged with any immigration-related offense and there is no indication of an active federal case alleging fraud.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and Omar’s office for comment.
Why It Matters
Under federal law, naturalized citizens can, in rare cases, lose their citizenship through a legal process known as denaturalization. This can occur if the government proves that citizenship was obtained through willful misrepresentation or concealment of material facts, commonly referred to as immigration fraud. If a court revokes citizenship on those grounds, the person could become subject to removal proceedings. However, this requires a formal investigation, the filing of a civil case by the Department of Justice and a judicial ruling. The burden of proof is high, and such cases are relatively uncommon.
What To Know
Omar arrived in the United States as a refugee fleeing the Somali civil war in 1995 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000. As a naturalized U.S. citizen, she cannot be deported unless her citizenship is revoked through a formal court process proving it was obtained through fraud.
The Republic of Somaliland responded on social media to Vance’s remarks by addressing the idea of deportation and indicating a willingness to receive Omar if requested.
Vance said on Johnson’s podcast that he has discussed possible legal action involving Omar with White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller.
Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, told Newsmax in December that the administration is investigating Omar for alleged immigration fraud.
Omar has frequently clashed with Trump and his administration, at times squaring off against the president and going toe to toe with the White House over policy and rhetoric, including in response to claims promoted by Trump that she allegedly married her brother, an allegation that has been widely debunked and repeatedly denied by Omar.
Omar has also been a frequent target of criticism tied to her heritage, Muslim faith and political positions. She is one of the original members of “the Squad,” a group of progressive House Democrats known for clashing with Trump and members of his administration.
What People Are Saying
Representative Ilhan Omar’s chief of staff, Connor McNutt, told Newsweek, “This is rich coming from someone who literally said they were willing to ‘create stories’ to redirect the media. This is a ridiculous lie and desperate attempt to distract from the pedophile protection party’s unpopular war of choice, increasing gas prices and rapidly dropping polling numbers.”
The Republic of Somaliland, on X: “Deportation? Please you’re just sending the princess back to her kingdom. Extradition? Say the word.”
Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, on X in December: “When demagogues like Trump are in trouble, they reach for the same playbook: racism, hatred and division, this time against Representative Ilhan Omar and the Somali-American community. It’s disgusting. It’s un-American. And it won’t work.”
President Donald Trump, in Pennsylvania in December: “I love this Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is, a little turban. I love her, she comes in, does nothing but b****. She’s always complaining. She comes from a country where, I mean, it’s considered about the worst country in the world, right?”
