Washington, D.C. – Texas Sen. Ted Cruz escalated his attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar on December 13, 2025, warning that the Minnesota Democrat could face imprisonment and deportation if allegations of marriage fraud prove true. The Republican firebrand, speaking on a podcast, outlined potential criminal charges stemming from claims that Omar married her brother in 2009 to evade immigration laws—a persistent rumor she’s vehemently denied as baseless and bigoted.
Cruz cited federal statutes, including 8 U.S.C. § 1325(c) on marriage fraud, which carries up to five years in prison and fines for knowingly entering a sham union to secure U.S. residency. He also flagged possible student loan fraud if Omar falsely claimed marital status on applications, and tax fraud for joint filings if the marriage was invalid. “If these allegations are true, she could be jailed and deported,” Cruz asserted, urging a thorough investigation by the Trump administration’s DHS.
The comments align with Border Czar Tom Homan’s recent confirmation that Homeland Security is reviewing Omar’s records for immigration irregularities. Omar, who arrived in the U.S. as a Somali refugee in 1995 and became a citizen in 2000, fired back, calling the scrutiny “sick” and politically motivated harassment. Her office dismissed the claims as recycled smears from far-right sources, noting no evidence has ever substantiated them despite past probes.
The feud underscores deepening partisan rifts, with Republicans leveraging Omar’s profile as a progressive “Squad” member to rally their base. Legal experts caution that statutes of limitations may bar prosecutions, but denaturalization remains a remote possibility if fraud is proven. As Trump’s deportation tally tops 2.5 million, Omar’s case tests the boundaries of executive power against a sitting congresswoman.
For now, the allegations hang like a shadow over Capitol Hill, blending immigration policy with personal vendettas in America’s polarized arena.
