Federal Investigation Into Rep. Ilhan Omar
On Monday morning, Rep. Ilhan Omar and her husband were at their home in Washington when federal agents carried out a search warrant. They reportedly seized her cellphone, notebooks, personal computers, and her passport.
According to a report, the Minnesota Democrat is the focus of multiple federal investigations. Prosecutors in Minnesota are looking into possible immigration fraud, while the office of DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro is examining the finances of both Omar and her spouse, Tim Mynett.
The Wall Street Journal, referencing U.S. officials familiar with the case, mentioned that the immigration investigation might aim to revoke Omar’s citizenship and potentially deport her.
Under federal immigration law, there’s a provision to rescind American citizenship if it was granted based on deliberate misrepresentation or the concealment of significant facts. Previously, the Trump administration targeted 40 U.S. citizens for denaturalization based on various crimes, including tax fraud and other serious offenses.
This investigation may probe whether Omar wrongfully claimed to be a minor when her father obtained derivative U.S. citizenship in 2000, thereby securing her status. Questions arise about her birthdate as well; some records indicate she was born on October 4, 1981, while others list 1982. If the earlier date is correct, she would have turned 19 before her father’s citizenship was granted, making her ineligible for the minor benefit.
Reports suggest that after her election to Congress in 2018, Omar’s staff urged entities like the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library and Wikipedia to change her birth year from 1981 to 1982.
If it’s determined that Omar provided false information on official documents, such as a passport or loan application, she could face prosecution, as naturalization fraud is subject to a 10-year statute of limitations. However, civil cases of denaturalization have no such limitation.
Omar has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Her office stated recently to the Journal, “President Trump would love to eliminate one of the most effective progressive voices in Congress. There is no basis for this.”
