Ilhan Omar's Deleted Tweet Reignites Identity and Immigration Scrutiny
A resurfaced 2013 social media post by the congresswoman referring to her father by a name similar to her ex-husband's is under scrutiny amid a federal investigation.
A deleted social media post from 2013, in which U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., appeared to refer to her father by a name similar to that of her former husband, has resurfaced. This development comes as federal investigators examine questions surrounding her identity and immigration records.
The post, originally shared on Father's Day in June 2013, stated, "Happy Father’s Day to my aabo Nur Said, I am forever grateful to Allah for giving me the best father…," according to an archived version of the message. Omar deleted the tweet on September 19, 2019. The name "Nur Said" bears a striking resemblance to the name of her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi.
This resurfaced post is emerging after federal agents searched Omar's Washington, D.C., residence on October 12 as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into possible false statements on immigration and naturalization documents. Recent court documents related to the search warrant have identified Omar as "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a.k.a. Ilhan Abdullahi Omar." Two individuals familiar with the investigation suggested that "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi" might be Omar's legal name, a characterization disputed by her office.
Omar has maintained that her real name is "Ilhan Abdullahi Omar" and has repeatedly denied allegations that she married her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. She has called the federal probe a political attack.
Records from other sources present differing accounts of her father's name. A memorial post by the Congressional Black Caucus marking his death in 2020 refers to him as "Nur Omar Mohamed." However, a New York Post story reportedly quoted Oxford University historian Mohamed Haji Ingiriis referring to Omar's father as "Nur Said."
A statement allegedly attributed to Omar's spokesperson, recirculated online, claimed that "Nur Said" was her father's childhood nickname and that he maintained a public page under that name. The statement also indicated the tweet was deleted due to threats against Omar and her family. Omar's office did not respond to requests for comment on the deleted post.
Somali naming conventions typically involve a given name, followed by the father's given name, and then the paternal grandfather's given name. While name similarities alone do not establish familial relationships, the convergence of names has drawn attention.
Omar's marriage to Elmi concluded in divorce in 2017. She subsequently legally married Ahmed Hirsi in 2018.
According to a former Minnesota federal immigration judge, if investigators prove Omar knowingly used a false name on federal forms, it could be prosecuted under the federal false-statements statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1001. The applicability of this statute would depend on factors such as the specific documents involved, the materiality of any alleged misstatement, and evidence of intent.
The Justice Department has not commented on the investigation.