Federal authorities have renewed their investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s immigration status and finances, revisiting allegations that were previously examined and dismissed in 2019. The inquiry comes amid heightened scrutiny from the Trump administration, which has intensified its efforts to probe Omar following years of public criticism from former President Donald Trump.
The current investigation centers on whether Omar or her late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, knowingly provided false information on immigration documents filed in the 1990s to obtain legal status and eventual citizenship in the United States. Among the issues under review are discrepancies regarding Omar’s birth date and questions about Mohamed’s past military service in Somalia, both of which were part of the earlier 2019 inquiry.
At that time, Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, conducted a review after a political appointee in the first Trump administration requested a search of Omar’s immigration records for possible fraud. The review found insufficient evidence and the investigation did not proceed further. Former officials familiar with the 2019 probe said the naturalization process was deemed solid and no fraud was detected.
The renewed inquiry escalated recently with a search of Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence, during which federal agents seized documents, as well as her cellphone and passport. This search was authorized by U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh, who imposed strict limitations intended to uphold constitutional protections afforded to members of Congress, specifically the speech and debate clause that generally shields lawmakers from undue executive branch intrusion.
Apart from immigration matters, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C., led by Jeanine Pirro, has launched a separate investigation into Omar’s personal finances, focusing on discrepancies in her congressional financial disclosure forms. The origin of the financial inquiry predates the current administration, with officials noting that the matter had been under review during the Biden administration as well.
Omar and her representatives have denounced both investigations as politically motivated efforts aimed at undermining her. Her spokesperson characterized the actions as an extension of former President Trump’s longstanding personal vendetta, calling the investigations baseless and emphasizing Omar’s commitment to the country. Trump, for his part, has publicly criticized Omar on multiple occasions but stated that decisions regarding the investigations fall to the Justice Department.
Legal experts suggest that even if authorities uncover evidence of wrongdoing, any attempt to revoke Omar’s citizenship or impose immigration-related charges would likely prompt extensive litigation. The administration is reportedly considering the possibility of revoking Omar’s citizenship certificate through an administrative process separate from criminal denaturalization. While revocation would not strip her of citizenship outright, it could complicate matters related to government documentation and potentially lead to further legal challenges.
The Department of Justice has declined to comment on the ongoing investigations, and the Department of Homeland Security has deferred inquiries to the Justice Department. The bipartisan nature of the constitutional and procedural concerns raised by officials and legal experts underlines the complexity and political sensitivity surrounding probes into sitting members of Congress.