On August 13, 2025, demands for the deportation of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) intensified following a guilty plea by her former campaign associate, Guhaad Hashi Said, in a $7 million pandemic food aid fraud scheme in Minnesota. The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed Said admitted to conspiring with others to defraud a federal program, prompting conservative critics to link Omar to the scandal. They claim her involvement, though unproven, warrants investigation and potential denaturalization.
Omar, a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2000, has faced prior deportation calls over allegations of immigration fraud, including claims she married her brother to secure his U.S. residency. The National Legal and Policy Center has renewed demands for an FBI probe into her immigration and marriage history, citing photographic evidence and unverified DNA claims. Omar denies these accusations, calling them baseless and politically motivated.
Republicans, including Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas), have escalated their rhetoric, with Gill launching a petition to deport Omar, alleging she prioritizes Somali interests over American ones. Legal experts, however, argue that deporting a naturalized citizen requires proof of fraud in obtaining citizenship, which remains unestablished in Omar’s case. Her defenders, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, condemn the attacks as “fascist” and discriminatory.
Omar, re-elected in 2024 with 74.4% of the vote, remains a polarizing figure. The controversy, fueled by her outspoken criticism of Trump’s immigration policies, underscores deep political divides. As calls for her removal grow, legal and ethical questions about targeting a sitting congresswoman persist.
