Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s casual revelation of an impending trip to her native Somalia has ignited a partisan inferno, with Republicans seizing on the news to demand her U.S. citizenship be revoked and her visa – despite her naturalized status – stripped away in a barrage of online vitriol.
The Minnesota Democrat, born in Mogadishu and a refugee who arrived in the U.S. as a child, disclosed her travel plans Wednesday during a heated X exchange with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). The spat stemmed from Omar’s comments following the September 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Omar reposted a video critiquing Kirk’s “racist dog whistles” and denial of Palestinian “genocide,” prompting Mace to file a resolution to censure her and boot her from committees like Foreign Affairs and Education. “Actions have consequences,” Mace posted, invoking Omar’s own past tweets on free speech limits.
Omar shot back: “I am going soon, so please drop off the tickets on your way to your office, I am next door.” Mace escalated, replying, “One-way ticket to Somalia with your name on it, Ilhan Omar,” and adding, “We would love to see you deported back to Somalia next.” The exchange exploded across social media, with Trump allies like Rep. Brandon Gill echoing calls for deportation, falsely tying it to debunked marriage fraud rumors. President Trump amplified the chaos Thursday, labeling Omar “scum” and questioning her loyalty in a post decrying Somalia’s governance.
Omar, undeterred, fired off: “I know you aren’t well or smart but… there isn’t a correlation between my committee assignments and deportation.” Her office clarified she condemned Kirk’s murder outright, grappling only with his “divisive legacy” in an interview. As a naturalized citizen since 2000, legal experts note deportation requires proving fraud in naturalization – a high bar unmet here.
The row underscores deepening rifts in a Trump-dominated Congress, where personal attacks masquerade as policy. With midterms on the horizon, Omar’s Somalia visit – likely for family or advocacy – has become fodder for xenophobic jabs, testing the resilience of America’s immigrant lawmakers.
