Ilhan Omar's Real Name Is Ilhan Nur Said Elmi Amid Federal Investigation, Sources Say
Federal investigators are reportedly probing potential immigration fraud related to the Minnesota congresswoman's paperwork.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's legal name is reportedly Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, according to sources familiar with an ongoing federal investigation into potential immigration fraud. The probe is examining whether the Minnesota congresswoman or her father committed fraud when filling out her immigration paperwork, U.S. District Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro's office confirmed.
Pirro filed a motion to prevent the unsealing of a federal search warrant for Omar's Washington, D.C. residence, stating that the execution of the warrant was not yet complete. The motion references "Congresswoman Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar," a detail that has led sources to state that "Ilhan Omar" is not her birth name.
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Omar's home on October 12, seizing her personal phone and passport and obtaining her DNA. Omar's sister, Sahra Noor, was also questioned by federal investigators in relation to the probe. The congresswoman has publicly stated that she does not possess a birth certificate.
According to her official U.S. House biography, Omar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 14, 1982, and immigrated to the U.S. with her family as refugees in 1995. She represents Minnesota's 5th Congressional District.
Former federal immigration judge Nathan Hansen indicated that if Omar has lived under an alias, it could cast doubt on numerous documents she has submitted throughout her life, potentially including applications for federal student aid, housing, public assistance, passports, and driver's licenses. Such a situation could lead to charges such as wire fraud, as many of these documents are sworn under penalty of perjury.
Omar has previously faced allegations of marrying her brother for immigration purposes, claims she has denied. She legally married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi in 2009, divorced in 2017, and married Tim Mynett in 2020.
Omar has accused former President Donald Trump and his administration of targeting her politically, calling the raid an "outrageous abuse of power" and an "unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement." She maintains she has done nothing wrong.
As of the time of publication, attorneys for Omar had not responded to requests for comment. Omar has not been charged with any crimes, and the information presented by prosecutors is currently comprised of allegations.