Ilhan Omar could face denaturalization and deportation if federal investigators determine that she committed immigration fraud, White House border czar Tom Homan said over the weekend.
Homan said the process would apply if evidence showed that Omar lied during the naturalization process, while stressing that investigators—not political officials—would have to establish the facts.
Omar, a Democratic representative from Minnesota, is a naturalized U.S. citizen and remains a sitting member of Congress.
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What Homan said about Ilhan Omar
Homan said Saturday that a person who lies during naturalization can be subjected to a legal process to revoke citizenship.
He said Omar would be held to the same legal standards as anyone else and that the evidence would determine whether the investigation leads to further action.
His comments did not amount to an announcement that Omar had been denaturalized, charged or ordered removed from the United States.
The remarks followed a federal search of Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on October 12, 2026, by agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Omar’s congressional office issued a statement after the search, while Democratic lawmakers questioned the timing and scope of the operation.
What is being investigated
Public allegations examined by federal authorities concern information connected to Omar’s immigration history and the paperwork submitted when her family came to the United States from Somalia.
One issue raised by investigators is whether Omar was under 18 when her father obtained U.S. citizenship in 2000, a distinction that could affect how her citizenship was acquired.
Those allegations remain unproven, and Omar has repeatedly rejected claims that she or her family committed immigration fraud.
A January 2026 House document shows that a congressional motion sought immigration and naturalization records connected to Omar, her family and a former husband.
That request was separate from the later search of Omar’s home and does not establish that the allegations are true.
How denaturalization works
Denaturalization is not an immediate administrative expulsion from the United States.
For a naturalized citizen to lose citizenship, the federal government generally must bring a case in court and prove that citizenship was illegally obtained or secured through concealment or deliberate misrepresentation of important facts.
A Justice Department denaturalization complaint filed in an unrelated case in June 2026 described the process as a court action under Section 340 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1451.
If citizenship were revoked, the person could then face separate immigration proceedings and possible removal, depending on their prior immigration status and the facts of the case.
That means Homan’s comments describe a potential legal pathway rather than a completed expulsion order against Omar.
Omar’s political and legal position
Omar’s office has characterized the search as part of a politically motivated campaign against one of President Donald Trump’s prominent congressional critics.
House Judiciary Committee Democrats similarly questioned the use of federal immigration investigators to search the home of a sitting member of Congress so close to the 2026 midterm elections.
Those statements represent political and legal criticism of the investigation, not a court finding that the search was unlawful.
The investigation also remains distinct from Omar’s work in Congress, where she continues to represent Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
What happens next
Federal investigators would need to complete their review before prosecutors could decide whether to pursue criminal charges, a civil denaturalization case or no further action.
Any attempt to revoke Omar’s citizenship would require proceedings in federal court and an opportunity for her to respond.
Until that process produces a final ruling, Omar remains a U.S. citizen and a member of the House of Representatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could Ilhan Omar be deported immediately?
No. She remains a U.S. citizen, and no public deportation order has been issued. Denaturalization and any later removal would require separate legal proceedings.
What is denaturalization?
Denaturalization is the legal process of revoking citizenship that the government says was obtained unlawfully or through deliberate concealment or misrepresentation.
What triggered the latest developments?
Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on October 12, 2026, and Tom Homan later discussed the possibility of denaturalization if immigration fraud were proven.
Has Ilhan Omar been charged with immigration fraud?
No public criminal charge against Omar for immigration fraud had been announced in the latest available information.
Would denaturalization automatically lead to deportation?
Not automatically. If citizenship were revoked, immigration authorities would need to determine whether removal proceedings were legally available based on Omar’s previous immigration status and other facts.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against congressional records, Omar’s official congressional office and U.S. Justice Department court filings describing denaturalization proceedings.
Disclaimer: The allegations described in this article have not been established as facts in court, and legal outcomes may change as the investigation proceeds.