House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota and the third-ranking member of House GOP leadership, says Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) should be jailed and deported if federal investigators determine she or her family lied on citizenship paperwork decades ago.
Omar, who was born in Somalia and came to the United States as a refugee in the 1990s, is under federal investigation over allegations that she or her father misrepresented her age when the family obtained citizenship. At issue is whether Omar was under 18 when her father was naturalized in 2000 — a status that would have automatically extended citizenship to her as a minor. If she was actually 18 or older at the time, she would have needed to pursue citizenship through the standard process required of other immigrants, such as green card holders.
If investigators conclude her stated birthdate was false, her citizenship could be invalidated, which would also undercut the naturalization requirement she met to serve in Congress.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Emmer said “there have been rumors for years” about Omar’s citizenship status. “If proven true, she should face consequences,” he said, adding on camera: “I would say first she should probably serve time in the gray bar motel and then get the hell out of here. She should go back to where she came from … if it’s determined that she lied to gain citizenship.”
Emmer also told Fox, “I think she is a liar. I think she is a fraud.”
Raid on Omar’s home
Federal agents raided Omar’s home earlier this week and seized her cellphone along with other items, according to the report. Emmer argued the investigation is not politically motivated, noting that a judge had to sign off on the search warrant.
“That judge had to determine that there was probable cause that a federal crime has been committed,” Emmer said. “And I’ll tell you what, as long as it was Ilhan Omar, it was going to be scrutinized to the very detail.” He added, “So the fact that they issued the warrant in the first place and then executed it, I mean maybe after all these years, someone is finally going to hold Ilhan Omar accountable.”
Omar and Democrats push back
Omar, a member of the progressive group of lawmakers known as the “Squad” alongside Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), has pushed back against the investigation, framing it as retaliation from President Donald Trump, whom she has frequently criticized.
“I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and other Democratic leaders have similarly criticized the probe, calling the raid “deeply disturbing” and suggesting the administration is using immigration enforcement against a political opponent. Omar’s allies have also pointed to the timing, noting the investigation surfaced fewer than three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
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