Former Judge: Ilhan Omar Could Face Criminal Charges, Denaturalization

A former federal immigration judge has stated that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who is currently under investigation, could potentially face both criminal charges and denaturalization. Nathan Hansen, an attorney with 23 years of experience who recently served as an immigration judge, told Fox News Digital that conviction of a crime by a naturalized citizen does not automatically lead to denaturalization but would result in standard court punishments.

Hansen explained that denaturalization proceedings are separate from any criminal case and are civil matters typically initiated by the Department of Justice. He added that a denaturalization proceeding might become more likely if there is a direct link between a criminal conviction and the individual's citizenship.

Omar is reportedly under investigation for alleged immigration fraud concerning her citizenship paperwork, with sources indicating her birth name is Ilhan Nur Said Elmi. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), raided Omar's Washington, D.C., home on October 12, reportedly seizing her phone, passport, and computer, and later confirmed to be in possession of her DNA.

Regarding potential statutes of limitations, Hansen suggested that fraud typically prevents such limitations from taking effect, as withholding or concealing information would be unfair to the other party. He noted that immigration fraud is a significant issue, contributing to the millions of pending immigration and removal cases across the country, with tens of thousands in Minnesota alone lacking scheduled court dates due to backlogs.

Hansen also commented on the prevalence of bogus asylum claims, which he stated often lack merit under existing law. He recalled instances from his time as an immigration judge where claims of insults in one's home country were presented as grounds for asylum, which he contrasted with the U.S. First Amendment protections for freedom of speech.