- Officials have discussed an ICE inquiry into Omar, but have not reported a search of her home, an arrest, or charges.
- Omar denies the marriage-fraud allegations; no court has found that she committed immigration fraud.
- Denaturalization requires legal proceedings and proof; no complaint has been filed against Omar, according to public accounts.
Federal officials have publicly described an inquiry involving Rep. Ilhan Omar, but the accounts do not substantiate claims that immigration agents raided her home. As of October 12, 2026, they have not reported a home search, arrest, search warrant or criminal charge.
Tom Homan, the White House border czar, said ICE was investigating allegations tied to Omar’s immigration history. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has also discussed the matter publicly. Neither official disclosed evidence showing agents searched her residence.
The DHS/ICE investigation concerns allegations that include marriage fraud and possible naturalization violations. The public statements establish that senior officials have spoken about an inquiry; they do not establish that a raid occurred.
Homan confirmed an inquiry but disclosed no evidence
Homan, a former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, described an “ongoing criminal investigation” involving Omar during a television interview. He said he could not provide investigative details.
“I know things are going on, but I can’t give specifics of what’s happening.”
When asked directly whether ICE was investigating her, Homan replied: “I’m confirming that ICE is, yeah — look, I said months ago that there’s something that’s been reported and needs to be looked at.” His comments did not identify evidence, investigative steps or a search of her home.
Mullin made a more specific allegation in an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson. “We know that she married her brother to try to bring him to the United States,” he said. Mullin added that there “may be more to this” involving the family’s original entry into the country.
He called the matter an “ongoing investigation” and said: “If we actually move a case forward, it’s not a political case. It’s an actual case because they did things wrong.” A DHS spokesperson said: “No one, including members of Congress, is above the law.”
Those statements are allegations and official characterizations, not findings by a court. Public accounts say no government agency has released evidence establishing that Ahmed Nur Said Elmi was Omar’s brother.
Omar says DHS had not contacted her about an inquiry
Omar has denied the allegations and said she was not told that authorities were investigating her. She told Fox News Digital she had not been informed of a criminal investigation, and reporting on her response said DHS had not contacted her.
That account sits alongside Homan’s public confirmation that ICE was investigating. The reports also said no public evidence had confirmed an open investigation. Homan’s remarks identify an inquiry in his account, but he did not disclose supporting evidence or details that clarify its status.
Omar has repeatedly denied marrying her brother or committing immigration fraud. She has described the allegations as “bigoted lies.”
The disputed claim reaches back to a 2009 marriage
Omar was born in Somalia and arrived in the United States in 1995, when she was 12 years old. Her family received refugee status. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000.
The allegation focuses on her 2009 marriage to Elmi, described in reporting as a British citizen. The two divorced in 2017. Omar denies that Elmi was her brother.
No court has found that she committed immigration fraud. The public record described in reports also includes no government-released evidence establishing the alleged sibling relationship. Those gaps leave the central claim unproven in court and unsupported by evidence made public by government agencies.
Vance and Comer also raised the allegations publicly
Vice President JD Vance said in May 2026 that the Department of Justice was looking into allegations involving Omar. “It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody’s entitled to equal justice under the law,” he said.
In a March 2026 podcast interview with Benny Johnson, Vance said: “We think Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States.” He also said he had discussed possible legal action with Stephen Miller, the White House immigration adviser.
Rep. James Comer, a Republican of Kentucky and chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sought evidence about the allegations after Mullin and Homan spoke publicly about an investigation. The officials’ comments have drawn attention to the claims, but they do not substitute for evidence or a court finding.
Denaturalization requires proof and government proceedings
An investigation alone does not revoke citizenship or automatically lead to deportation. The government generally must first establish a legal basis to invalidate a naturalized citizen’s status. In an alleged naturalization-fraud case, it may seek denaturalization under 8 U.S.C. § 1451 through a civil action, typically in federal district court.
If citizenship is revoked, removal proceedings may follow. Deportation is not automatic merely because authorities are investigating. The government would need to pursue the required proceedings and prove a legal basis for the action.
Potentially relevant provisions include INA § 340(a), 8 U.S.C. § 1451(a), which covers revocation of naturalization obtained unlawfully or through concealment or misrepresentation. Rules governing denaturalization proceedings appear at 8 C.F.R. § 340.1.
Other provisions may become relevant depending on the facts and legal claims. INA § 237(a)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(A), applies certain inadmissibility grounds to deportability. INA § 212(a)(6)(C), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(C), addresses fraud or willful misrepresentation of a material fact to obtain an immigration benefit.
Public accounts identify no filed denaturalization complaint, criminal indictment, removal order or court ruling against Omar. Homan has said denaturalization is available when immigration fraud is proven, but his public comments did not establish that fraud had been proven in her case.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
