UMVA has learned that the Justice Department has opened a probe into allegations that Rep. Ilhan Omar may have committed immigration fraud, reviving long‑standing claims about a suspicious marriage.
During a press briefing, Vice President JD Vance hinted that the anti‑fraud task force, created to root out abuse in federal benefit programs, could soon turn its spotlight on the Minnesota congresswoman, a vocal critic of the administration.
“You read the things about Ilhan Omar… who she married and whether she didn’t marry this person or that person,” Vance said, noting that “something fishy seems to be there,” while reaffirming that “everybody’s entitled to equal justice under the law.”
Vance’s remarks echo a March podcast interview where he told a conservative commentator that he had spoken with a senior White House immigration adviser about possible legal action against Omar, asserting, “We think Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America.”
The controversy centers on claims that Omar entered a religious marriage in 2002 with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, then later married Ahmed Elmi in 2009—a man some allege is her brother and whose union is said to have been part of a scheme to secure immigration benefits.
Omar, who arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1995 and became a naturalized citizen in 2000, has consistently denied the accusations, and no court records have confirmed the allegations.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Omar maintained her religious marriage with Hirsi even after the legal ceremony with Elmi, and she continued to have children with Hirsi while the Elmi marriage remained on paper until their divorce was finalized in 2017.
In 2020, Omar remarried political consultant Tim Mynett, further complicating the timeline of her personal relationships.
Vance reiterated that if a crime is suspected, “we’ll prosecute that crime,” and confirmed that the Justice Department is actively reviewing the case.
The investigation now hangs in the balance, poised to determine whether the allegations will translate into formal charges or fade into the realm of political controversy.
