Investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Immigration Status
MINNEAPOLIS — A former federal immigration judge has noted that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., currently under investigation, may face both criminal charges and the possibility of denaturalization.
There are two ongoing federal investigations concerning the congresswoman. The first focuses on alleged immigration fraud, while the second examines discrepancies in her financial disclosures, which were reported just one year apart.
“If someone is a naturalized citizen — which I believe is the case with Ilhan Omar — a criminal conviction doesn’t automatically lead to denaturalization or similar actions,” stated Nathan Hansen, an attorney with 23 years of experience, in comments to Fox News Digital. “The individual would typically face standard legal consequences from the court.”
Hansen, appointed by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, served briefly as an immigration judge earlier this year. He emphasized that denaturalization procedures are distinct from any criminal cases stemming from the federal investigation into Omar. Sources familiar with the inquiry suggest that her true name is Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, and she is being scrutinized for alleged immigration fraud linked to her citizenship paperwork, potentially filled out inaccurately by her or her late father.
“Denaturalization is a separate civil process, which would typically be initiated by the Department of Justice, possibly on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security,” explained Hansen.
“If there’s a connection between a criminal conviction and someone’s citizenship status, it might increase the likelihood of a denaturalization proceeding being initiated by the Justice Department,” he added, noting that this would depend on discretionary decisions made within the department.
On October 12, Omar’s home in Washington, D.C., was raided by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. During this operation, authorities reportedly seized her phone, passport, and computer, and later confirmed they also have her DNA.
There have been discussions about whether Omar’s potential legal violations might be hindered by statutes of limitations. Hansen acknowledged hearing these claims but expressed skepticism. “In general, fraud can pause the statute of limitations. If something is undisclosed or hidden, it wouldn’t be fair to allow that timeline to limit possible prosecution,” he commented. “That’s just a general principle in law.”
Current Situation of the Immigration Investigation
When asked about immigration fraud in a broader context, Hansen pointed out the overwhelming number of pending immigration and removal cases, both nationwide and specifically in Minnesota. “From a high-level perspective, the number of cases coming into the U.S. is enormous, possibly in the tens of millions,” he noted, estimating that there are certainly millions involved.
In Minnesota alone, he mentioned, there are about 20,000 to 30,000 pending removal cases without scheduled court dates, largely due to a significant backlog in immigration cases. “Whether you label it fraud or not, the system is overwhelmed, and it’s not functioning as intended,” he explained further.
Bogus asylum claims are also contributing to this backlog, Hansen pointed out. “Asylum relief is related to protected grounds,” he added. “Common grounds include persecution based on race, religion, ethnicity, or political viewpoints.”
Reflecting on his experience as an immigration judge, Hansen recalled frequently encountering asylum claims that didn’t hold up or applications based on “clearly fake” documents. “I’ve seen cases where individuals claimed, ‘People insulted me in my country.’ In response, I would think, ‘Your country likely offers more protection against insults than the U.S. Here, we have freedom of speech, and in general, being rude or insulting isn’t a crime.’”
