Ilhan Omar: The Deportation Threat And The Marriage Controversy
In 2016, when the US elected Donald Trump and the Republicans were given control of the Congress, drawing a parallel to the event, for the very first time a Somali American wearing headscarf, Ilhan Omar won in Minnesota’s House of Representatives. Omar, 42 years old, a refugee from Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu is known for being a self-styled progressive who would stick up for fellow Muslims and work for fairer pay and better schools in Minneapolis.
Ilhan, Democratic Representative has successfully defended her Minneapolis-area 5th district seat in the last election.
Omar who is known for her charisma by being a strong ambassador for Somalis and Muslims is now caught up in conflicts.
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A Republican Congressman from North Texas is advocating for the deportation of the Congress Rep, arguing that she is more loyal to the undocumented immigrants in the United States from her native Somalia than to the United States. In a fundraising email titled “Petition: Deport Ilhan Omar,” Rep Brandon Gill’s campaign wrote that “we should have never let Ilhan Omar into our country”. Apart from this, an old rumor that Ilhan had married her brother and committed immigration fraud has also now resurfaced on social media.
The UK Daily Mail reported that Omar had said to her friends that her second husband was her brother and that the marriage was a scam to get him immigration papers. The friend who had reported it to the newspaper said that it was a major scandal in the Minneapolis Somali community and at the time of the incident she was not a political figure. However reacting to the post stating, “No posts from @IlhanMN or @Ilhan since this was confirmed to be true,” Ilhan wrote, “The only thing that is confirmed is your stupidity, hope that helps.”
The only thing that is confirmed is your stupidity, hope that helps. https://t.co/brzQZ2x8oE
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2025
This wasn’t the first time Ilhan has faced similar accusations. Earlier, in 2020, Donald Trump had asked for an investigation during a campaign rally stating unsubstantiated allegations that she had married her brother and migrated to the US illegally. Omar has always been an occasional target for Trump’s campaign speeches.
In addition, Elon Musk, the “first” friend of the government, who has also been highly critic of Ilhan from the very beginning launched another scathing attack against the Congresswoman by sharing a video on X. In the video posted on social media, Ilhan was seen giving a speech to Somalis in a private setting, telling them how to “escape the law on undocumented immigrants”.
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However, waving away all the allegations, Omar said that the video shared by Musk was doctored and insisted that she had done nothing wrong. “Hey, Elon. Everyone in this country has the right to know their rights. This is the law,” she replied.
Ilhan Responds to Allegations:
In a recent interview on ‘Mehdi Unfiltered’, Rep. Omar replying to Musk’s comment said, “He wakes up lying. He goes to sleep lying,” Omar said. “And frankly, I don’t think he understands the laws of this country. I don’t think he understands the Constitution. I don’t think he understands the power that we have as members of Congress. And I don’t think he understands or thinks that people are entitled to rights under the Constitution if he doesn’t like them”.
She further slammed freshman GOP House Member Brandon Gill for filing the petition against her stating the US would be a better place if Omar were deported. “The level of stupidity is embarrassing,” she said.
Marriage Controversy:
As per an AP report, earlier in 2016, when conservative bloggers had come in alleging that Omar was married to two men at the same time, polygamy- having more than one wife or husband at once, which is illegal in the US.
However, Omar revealed her marriage and divorce record to dismiss the allegations. According to the marriage record, Omar had applied for a license in 2002 to marry her husband Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, who Omar says went by Ahmed Abdisalan Aden at the time. Records show that the marriage certificate wasn’t issued then and Omar has said they didn’t pursue a civil marriage but instead married in their Muslim “faith tradition”.
Omar and Hirsi had two children, but the couple ended their marriage in 2008. She then got married to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, whom she said is a British citizen on Feb 12, 2009, as per the marriage certificate issued in Hennepin County. However, the relationship later ended in 2011 and the two divorced in their faith tradition. But Omar didn’t take legal action to divorce him until 2017.
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As per the marriage record, Omar and Hirsi reunited and had a third child together in June 2012 and Omar legally married Hirsi in early 2018, a month after her divorce from Elmi was finalized.
Early Life:
Omar was born in Mogadishu, but when her family fled from the country after the region was toppled by dictator Siad Barre. After spending four years in a refugee camp, Omar’s family was excited to secure refugee resettlement to the US State of Virginia. Soon Omar’s family joined fellow Somalis in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a northern Rust Belt state on the Great Lakes bordering Canada.
Omar had earned degrees in business, political science and international studies. She had helped female American immigrants and favoured rehabilitating rather than jailing offenders. Moreover, she had helped the restaurants to stay open late for fast-breaking Ramadan suppers. Omar has also been an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza.
