Ilhan Omar may lose US citizenship for allegedly lying about marriage status: Harmeet Dhillon

Harmeet Dhillon said, 'I think it's been credibly alleged that there are serious questions about the circumstances of the paperwork around that naturalization,' referring to Ilhan Omar
Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon confirms mounting trouble for Ilhan Omar during her conversation with Benny Johnson (Getty Images)
Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon confirms mounting trouble for Ilhan Omar during her conversation with Benny Johnson (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican attorney Harmeet Dhillon suggested that Rep Ilhan Omar could face denaturalization if allegations about fraud during her citizenship process are proven true, saying there are “serious questions” surrounding her immigration paperwork.

Dhillon made the remarks during an interview with Benny Johnson on Thursday, February 26, in which she argued that committing fraud while obtaining US citizenship can be grounds for stripping that status.



Harmeet Dhillon points to ‘serious questions’ around Ilhan Omar

Referencing Omar and Rep Rashida Tlaib, Dhillon criticized what she described as their “contempt,” before turning specifically to Omar’s background.

Ilhan Omar has some legal issues regarding her citizenship. I’ll just leave it at that. I think that they've been well covered in the press,” Dhillon said.

Pressed to elaborate, Dhillon explained the legal framework around denaturalization.

“It’s a truism of immigration law that if you commit fraud in the course of obtaining your citizenship, you can be denaturalized,” she said.

“If you lie about your marriage status on which your citizenship depends or your familial status or what have you, if you fake any of those documents or you lie, that's a grounds for denaturalization.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks during a mark up meeting with the House Budget Committee on Capitol Hill on May 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. Members of the Budget Committee met to consider House Republicans’ reconciliation bill, which includes U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed tax and spending cuts. The bill faced bipartisan opposition, with five Republican members of the House Budget Committee voting against it and supporting a motion for the committee to recess for the weekend. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Rep Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks during a mark up meeting with the House Budget Committee on Capitol Hill on May 16, 2025 in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

She added, “I think it's been credibly alleged that there are serious questions about the circumstances of the paperwork around that naturalization. I’ll just leave it at that.”

Dhillon clarified that she is not personally working on any such case and that the matter does not fall under the Civil Rights Division.

However, she emphasized that citizenship is “a precious privilege” and said, “If you commit fraud in the course of obtaining a benefit, you're not entitled to it.”

Ilhan Omar’s SOTU outburst and political clashes

Dhillon’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny of Omar following her vocal protest during President Donald Trump’s SOTU address.

During the speech, Omar interrupted from the House floor. The moment quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from Republicans who accused her of disrespecting the office of the presidency.

Her supporters said it was a spontaneous protest against rhetoric they consider harmful.

The clash further deepened the long-running feud between Omar and Trump. Ilhan later defended her actions by saying she “had to respond” to what she described as Trump’s “lies about Somalis.”



She argued that remaining silent in the face of what she viewed as misinformation would have been irresponsible.

The exchange added to Omar’s long-running clashes with Trump and other Republicans, who have frequently criticized her positions on immigration and foreign policy.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

JD Vance took questions on Iran and inflation before a lighthearted weight-loss exchange at his first briefing since Karoline Leavitt's exit
6 minutes ago
President Trump made the remarks in two Truth Social posts on Thursday, September 3, as debate over US military supplies continues
2 hours ago
President Trump escalated his criticism of Canada after calling the country tougher to deal with than China and Vietnam
3 hours ago
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the remarks at the Foundry School launch, a State Department program for advanced manufacturing jobs
4 hours ago
Vice President JD Vance made the case at the Foundry School launch for manufacturing careers alongside finance, law and tech
5 hours ago
President Donald Trump said voters might dislike Ken Paxton’s appearance, clothes and television interviews, calling the remarks 'so insulting to him'
13 hours ago
Donald Trump designated JD Vance as the administration’s 'fraud czar,' tasking him with leading its sweeping campaign against fraud
14 hours ago
Andy Biggs' amendment needed a two-thirds majority, while Katherine Clark's office urged Democrats to reject the measure before the vote
15 hours ago
President Donald Trump said not eating meat could spell trouble in Texas while backing Ken Paxton amid campaign funding struggles
16 hours ago
Donald Trump made clear that he does not intend to campaign for candidates who are comfortably ahead
17 hours ago