Rep. Ilhan Omar Denounces GOP Investigation Into Alleged Marriage Fraud as ‘Sick’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., fiercely rejected Republican-led inquiries into allegations that she entered into a fraudulent marriage with her brother to evade immigration laws, calling the investigations “sick” attacks. The controversy resurfaced last week when Tom Homan, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director and President Donald Trump’s border czar, announced that federal authorities were reviewing documents related to the claims.
Omar, who fled Somalia and was granted asylum in the United States in 1995 before becoming a naturalized citizen in 2000, has faced questions about her marital history for years. The allegations center on whether she married Ahmed Elmi, a British citizen, in 2009 while still legally married to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, with whom she had a religious marriage dating back to 2002. Critics contend that this arrangement could constitute immigration fraud if the 2009 marriage was entered into solely to gain legal status.
When approached by Fox News Digital about Homan’s statement that federal investigators were pulling files and records to determine if Omar committed immigration fraud, the congresswoman dismissed the inquiry. “I have no response because I don’t know what they’ll be investigating,” Omar said as she walked through the halls of Congress. Pressed further on whether she believed investigators would find anything, she responded emphatically, “Absolutely not.”
Asked why the allegations continue to surface, Omar exclaimed, “Because they’re sick!” before quickly departing.
Homan’s announcement comes amid heightened political tensions, with President Trump reviving the years-old scandal during debates over a separate fraud case involving Somali Medicaid recipients in Minnesota. Homan suggested that while fraud likely occurred, the statute of limitations might complicate any prosecution efforts.
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a vocal critic of Omar, argued that if the allegations are true, she could face criminal charges under multiple federal statutes. “If this is true, then Omar faces criminal liability under three different statutes,” Cruz said, highlighting that knowingly entering into a marriage to circumvent immigration laws can result in up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and deportation.
Omar’s case underscores the complexities of immigration enforcement and the scrutiny faced by public officials with immigrant backgrounds. The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have protocols for investigating suspected immigration fraud, but such inquiries involving sitting members of Congress are rare and politically charged.
Omar’s political career has been marked by controversy and fierce opposition from Republican lawmakers. The renewed focus on her marital history coincides with ongoing investigations into alleged Medicaid fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community, further intensifying partisan divisions.
As federal agents review records related to Omar’s marriages, the congresswoman continues to deny any wrongdoing. The situation remains fluid, with potential legal and political ramifications depending on the findings of the investigation.
For more on immigration fraud statutes, see the U.S. Department of Justice’s guide on immigration fraud. Additional information about congressional ethics and investigations can be found through the House Ethics Committee.
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