Ilhan Omar faces possible denaturalization as federal probes expand
Federal investigators raided Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on Monday and a judge later authorized grand‑jury subpoenas to her sister, Sahra Noor, and at least one other family member, according to multiple news reports.
The raids and subpoenas are part of a broader criminal investigation into Omar’s immigration paperwork, which began under the previous administration and has intensified this week. Officials are probing whether her late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, misrepresented himself as a refugee and whether Omar’s own naturalization relied on false information about her age.
Legal scholar Jonathan Turley told a televised audience that U.S. immigration law permits denaturalization when a person obtains citizenship through untrue statements. He noted that if Omar was older than the 17 years claimed when she derived citizenship from her father’s naturalization, the basis for her status could be invalid.
“The U.S. government’s position has always been that if you have information there that is untrue, where you would NOT have been made a citizen, then you can be denaturalized,” Turley said.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro confirmed that her office is conducting a separate investigation into Omar’s financial disclosures, noting that the probe will follow the facts wherever they lead.
“It doesn’t matter what the House does,” Pirro said. “We’re looking at the facts. Based upon the facts, we’ll follow them wherever they take us.”
Vice President JD Vance, appearing on the same program, emphasized that the investigations will continue regardless of political pressure, stating that officials will “follow the facts” and will act only if credible evidence emerges.
Sunny Hostin, a legal analyst on the broadcast, criticized the alleged misstatements and warned that a denial of citizenship would have serious ramifications for any member of Congress.
In addition to the immigration inquiry, the Department of Justice is examining the dramatic increase in reported values of businesses tied to Omar’s husband, Tim Mynett, which grew from under $100,000 in 2023 to a range of $6 million to $30 million in 2024 before being amended to a lower range. The financial probe, however, remains distinct from the immigration case.
The subpoenas are a procedural step meant to gather evidence; they do not, by themselves, indicate that the recipients are suspected of wrongdoing. Prosecutors have not announced any charges, and earlier investigations into Omar’s immigration history have concluded without indictment.
Omar has denied any wrongdoing, labeling the investigations as politically motivated attacks. Her office said she remains committed to serving her constituents while cooperating fully with law‑enforcement officials.
The next phase of the probes is expected to involve further document review and possible testimony from family members, with authorities indicating that the investigations will continue through the coming weeks.
