A federal investigation into U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) is reportedly examining questions surrounding how she obtained U.S. citizenship, raising the possibility of an effort to establish legal grounds for denaturalization, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Omar, a Somali-born congresswoman who represents Minnesota, has faced increased scrutiny from federal authorities in recent months. According to media reports, investigators are examining her financial records, family immigration documents and allegations concerning her naturalization.
Investigation Focuses on Immigration Records
According to The Wall Street Journal, investigators are examining whether Omar’s age was accurately reported during the immigration and citizenship process. One question reportedly under review is whether she was 17 or 18 when her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, brought her and other family members to the United States after they had lived in a refugee camp.
The distinction could be legally significant because certain children may acquire U.S. citizenship automatically when a parent becomes a naturalized citizen, provided the applicable legal requirements are met.
Omar has maintained that she became a U.S. citizen at the age of 17 through her father’s naturalization.
The New York Times has reported that federal authorities issued subpoenas to members of Omar’s family as part of the investigation into their immigration records.
The investigation reportedly intensified this week when federal agents searched Omar’s Washington residence and seized electronic devices and other materials. The precise scope of the search and the allegations under investigation have not been fully detailed publicly.
Omar Calls Investigation Political Intimidation
Omar has strongly criticized the federal investigations, describing them as politically motivated efforts to discredit her.
“Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” Omar said, accusing President Donald Trump of pursuing a campaign of intimidation against her.
The allegations under investigation have not been established as facts, and the reported inquiry does not itself establish that Omar committed a crime or obtained citizenship unlawfully.
Concerns Raised Ahead of Midterm Elections
The investigation has also drawn criticism from government watchdogs and progressive groups.
The Democracy Defenders Fund filed a complaint alleging that the timing of the federal search, shortly before early voting in Minnesota’s congressional election, raises concerns about potential political interference.
Norm Eisen, the organization’s executive chairman and co-founder, called for an immediate review of the circumstances surrounding the search.
The complaint raises questions about whether federal law enforcement activity could violate the Hatch Act, which restricts certain political activities by federal employees. The filing represents the organization’s allegations, not a determination that a violation occurred.
Can a U.S. Citizen Be Stripped of Citizenship?
Under U.S. law, naturalized citizenship can be revoked in certain circumstances, including when citizenship was illegally procured or obtained through material concealment or misrepresentation. Such cases require a legal process and cannot be resolved solely through political accusations or an ongoing investigation.
For now, the reported investigation remains ongoing, and no final legal determination regarding Omar’s citizenship has been announced in the material cited by the reports.
The case is unfolding as Minnesota prepares for the 2026 midterm elections, placing renewed attention on the intersection of federal law enforcement, immigration law and political accountability.
