‘If there's a crime, we'll prosecute’: Vance says DOJ reviewing Ilhan Omar immigration fraud claims

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday, May 19, that the Department of Justice is looking into whether Rep Ilhan Omar committed immigration fraud, reviving longstanding allegations surrounding her past marriage history.

Vance said authorities would review the matter as part of broader anti-fraud efforts launched by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The allegations relate to claims made by critics that Omar married a man they allege was her brother as part of an immigration arrangement. However, Omar has repeatedly denied the accusations.

JD Vance backs DOJ review of Ilhan Omar allegations

During remarks to reporters, Vance was asked whether the administration’s anti-fraud task force would examine Omar, who has frequently criticized Trump and his policies.

“You read the things about Ilhan Omar… who she married and whether she didn't marry this person or that person,” Vance said. “It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody's entitled to equal justice under the law.”

He later added, “We're going to investigate it. We're going to take a look at it. If we think that there's a crime, we're going to prosecute that crime. And that's something that the Department of Justice is looking at right now.”

Vance did not provide details about the nature or status of any investigation and said he did not want to “prejudge” the matter.

Vance has previously made similar allegations during a March interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson. During that appearance, Vance said he had discussed potential legal action involving Omar with White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller.

“We think Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America,” Vance said during the podcast interview.

Ilhan Omar denies immigration fraud allegations again

According to publicly reported accounts, Ilhan Omar entered a religious marriage with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi in 2002. She later legally married Ahmed Elmi, a British citizen, in 2009.

Critics have alleged Elmi was Omar’s brother, though the allegation has not been substantiated in public records. Omar separated from Elmi in 2011 and finalized the divorce in 2017.

Omar has consistently denied wrongdoing and dismissed the claims against her as politically motivated attacks.

In December, she responded to renewed criticism from Trump and his allies on social media, writing, “He needs serious help. Since he has no economic policies to tout, he’s resorting to regurgitating bigoted lies instead.”

The renewed focus on Omar also comes after scrutiny surrounding revisions to her financial disclosure filings last month. Omar amended disclosure forms that had initially listed companies co-owned by her current partner, Tim Mynett, as being worth between $6 million and $30 million.

The updated filing revised the couple’s joint assets to a range between $18,004 and $95,000, while changing the valuation of Mynett’s companies to “none.”