A 2013 social media post from Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has come back into the spotlight as federal investigators delve into her identity and immigration status. In the now-deleted post, Omar referred to her father as “aabiso Nur Said,” which she wrote on June 2013, and later removed in 2019.
Interestingly, various records—including a memorial post from the Congressional Black Caucus that noted her father’s passing in 2020—identified him as “Nur Omar Mohamed.” This discrepancy in names is notable, especially since “Nur Said” bears resemblance to her ex-husband’s name, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi.
Recently, there’s been heightened scrutiny surrounding Omar’s immigration history as federal agents executed a search warrant at her home in D.C. as part of an investigation into allegations of false statements made on immigration and naturalization forms. Omar has firmly denied accusations claiming her former husband is, in fact, her brother, labeling the investigation as a politically motivated maneuver.
The deleted social media post was brought to light again after the agents conducted the search on October 12. Omar’s office has continuously asserted her innocence regarding any wrongdoing connected to the investigation.
In Somali culture, names typically follow a structure that includes a person’s given name, their father’s name, and typically their grandfather’s, so similarities in names alone don’t necessarily imply familial connections.
An apparently attributed statement from Omar’s spokesperson circulated online, suggesting that “Nur Said” was a childhood nickname of her father, claiming that Omar deleted the tweet due to receiving threats against her family.
Omar’s office has not provided any recent comments about the post. Reports mention her father as “Nur Said,” and some narratives even touch upon his past military affiliations. However, Fox News has not corroborated claims regarding his name being Nur Said Elmi Mohamed, differing from “Nur Omar Mohamed.”
When questioned about her identity, Omar has reiterated that her real name is “Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.” In a recent interview, when asked whether her ex-husband might be a distant relative, she simply stated, “Not to my knowledge.”
Recent legal documents tied to the search warrant have referred to Omar as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi,” although it hasn’t clarified why this name is associated with her or affirmed that she has used a false identity.
On another note, Omar’s marriage to Elmi ended with a divorce in 2017, followed by her legal marriage to Ahmed Hirsi the following year. Investigators are examining whether she knowingly utilized a false name on official documents, which could be scrutinized under the federal false-statements statute if evidence suggests intent.
The Justice Department has not yet responded to inquiries regarding this situation.
