An investigation conducted during the Obama administration uncovered evidence suggesting that Rep. Ilhan Omar's marriage to her former husband, British citizen Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, may have been a sham, according to a report by The New York Times.
Investigators examining the Minnesota congresswoman's marriage in 2016 found evidence supporting allegations that Elmi may have been Omar's brother. The longstanding claims center on accusations that Omar married Elmi to help him obtain immigration benefits. The investigation ultimately stalled, with prosecutors concluding that any potential offense might have fallen outside the five-year statute of limitations.
However, a separate review of Omar's immigration history in 2019, during the Trump administration, reached a different conclusion. Three former immigration officials told The Washington Post that investigators found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing and did not identify problems with her naturalization. This review examined allegations concerning her marriage, age, and her father's immigration records.
Public records indicate that Omar legally married Elmi in February 2009. The couple separated in 2011 but did not legally divorce until December 2017. Elmi had previously sought to change his marriage-based green card status from conditional to permanent. According to a former immigration official cited by The Washington Post, authorities requested additional evidence due to concerns about the marriage's validity, but Elmi withdrew his application.
The recent scrutiny follows federal agents searching Omar's Washington, D.C. home on October 12 as part of a criminal investigation. Agents seized her phone and passport, and grand jury subpoenas have been issued to some of her relatives. The Justice Department has not announced any charges against Omar.
Omar has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has characterized the marriage allegations as a conspiracy theory. In an interview with Chris Hayes, she called the claim that she married her brother "insane" and stated that it originated from a blog before being amplified by right-wing conspiracy theorists. When asked about the possibility of her former husband being related to her, Omar responded, "Not to my knowledge."
President Trump has repeatedly cited these allegations, including Omar's response about her former husband, at rallies. He has also called for her resignation, referencing a Justice Department filing that used the name "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi" in relation to Omar.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has stated that investigators were pursuing the case and indicated it could be presented to a grand jury. However, his comments did not confirm any criminal wrongdoing or that prosecutors intended to file charges.
Omar has suggested that the investigation and the search of her home were politically motivated, aimed at intimidating her due to her criticism of the president. Trump has denied involvement in the search, while administration officials assert that law enforcement decisions are based on facts and the law. The Justice Department has sought to keep the search warrant application sealed, citing the potential to jeopardize the ongoing investigation and stating that decisions on charges have not yet been made.