Did Ilhan Omar marry her brother on a marriage based green card? What is the investigation? Explained | Today’s news
US Congressman Ilhan Omar is facing an investigation involving alleged immigration fraud and citizenship irregularities. The controversy also includes claims of a Democrat’s marriage, financial disclosures and possible political targeting. Omar has repeatedly denied allegations that she married his brother. Her lawyers reject suggestions she has broken citizenship laws.
What are the investigators investigating?
Sources told the New York Post that federal prosecutors obtained DNA during the investigation. They reportedly want to find out if Omar married her brother Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. The charges relate to their 2009 marriage and an alleged attempt to secure his green card.
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These remain allegations and the bill does not state what the DNA shows. It’s also unclear how investigators obtained the DNA or whose samples they took.
Elmi reportedly applied for a green card based on marriage, but withdrew his application in 2019. Immigration officials were looking for more evidence of his marriage. Omar and Elmi divorced in 2017 after separating in 2011.
Omar filed joint taxes with Ahmed Hirsi in 2014 and 2015. Elmi remained her legal husband.
Why was her home searched?
Homeland Security Investigations searched Omar’s home in Washington on October 12. Agents were seen carrying boxes marked as seized evidence.
Sources said the search, DNA and other evidence could support a grand jury indictment. Prosecutors are reportedly considering a conspiracy case involving immigration fraud. Such a case would involve allegations that people cooperated to violate US immigration laws.
Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani said older actions could help support conspiracy charges.
“There are two reasons why I think the conspiracy will be charged. First, you have an uncharged co-conspirator in her father who died. … (Second) you have some of this older conduct that’s also outside the statute of limitations,” he told The Post.
Why is it about citizenship?
A separate allegation relates to Omar’s age when her father became a US citizen in 2000. Investigators reportedly suspect her date of birth was falsified during the US immigration process.
Omar arrived from Somalia in 1995. According to Barack Obama, she obtained citizenship through her father when she was 17. The former US president said the administration was pushing an unproven theory that she was actually 18 years old.
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But border official Tom Homan believes investigators have built a strong case. He suggested that the administration seek to revoke her citizenship.
The bill distinguishes allegations of marital fraud from alleged false statements affecting citizenship. It says a marriage fraud conviction would similarly not jeopardize her citizenship.
What does Omar’s side say?
Her lawyers say there is no legitimate reason to question her citizenship. They demanded the immediate return of the property seized during the search.
They also alleged that the investigators ignored court instructions and violated policy regarding pre-election investigations. The Justice Department denied the claims and said officials had complied with all legal requirements.
A former immigration official is reported to have said that an earlier investigation did not find sufficient evidence of the siblings’ marriage.
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Why did politics enter the dispute?
Obama accused the administration of targeting Omar for his criticism of President Donald Trump. Her lawyers also claimed it was a political vendetta.
“Now the administration is actively seeking to deport Congresswoman Omar, apparently based solely on the baseless theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized and is therefore not a citizen,” Obama wrote on social media.
“If this becomes the new normal. There’s no reason to believe it’s going to end with her — or that future presidents in either party won’t do the same,” he said.
The White House defended the investigation as promoting law and order.
