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
PUBLISHED FEB 27, 2026
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.

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