DHS Secretary Mullin Says Investigation Into Ilhan Omar's Immigration History Is Ongoing

DHS secretary Mullin says investigation into Ilhan Omar's immigration history is ongoing over allegation she married her brother to help him enter the US.

US Homeland Security secretary Markwayne Mullin has revealed new details about an ongoing investigation into Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar’s immigration history, saying federal authorities are examining allegations that she married her brother to help him enter the United States. Speaking to conservative commentator Benny Johnson at the Republican National Convention in Dallas on Thursday, Mullin claimed investigators were looking beyond Omar’s disputed marriage allegation and examining her family’s broader immigration history. “We know that she married her brother to try to bring him into the United States,” Mullin said, adding that there “may be more to this” and that investigators were looking into possible “illegal activity” related to the family’s entry into the US. Mullin said the matter remained an “ongoing investigation” and insisted authorities would act only if they found evidence of wrongdoing.

The allegations against Omar

The allegations centre on Omar’s 2009 marriage to British citizen Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. Conservative critics have alleged that Elmi was Omar’s biological brother and that the marriage was entered into to facilitate his immigration to the US. Omar has repeatedly denied the allegation, saying Elmi was not her brother and rejecting claims that she committed immigration fraud. The allegations gained national attention in 2019 after then-President Donald Trump and conservative groups called for an investigation. They have resurfaced periodically amid political attacks on the Minnesota Democrat. However, the allegation has never been established in court. No federal agency has publicly released findings proving that Elmi was Omar’s brother or that the marriage was entered into for immigration purposes.

DHS’s statement

Mullin said investigators were examining whether false information had been provided during the immigration process and suggested that potential violations could still be pursued years after they allegedly occurred. “If we actually move a case forward, it's not a political case,” Mullin said. “It's an actual case because they did things wrong.” The DHS did not confirm the specific allegations to news agency Newsweek upon asking. A department spokesperson said the agency does not comment on specific investigative techniques, ongoing investigations or potential future actions, adding: “No one, including members of Congress, are above the law.” Mullin did not provide documentary evidence during the interview to support his assertion that Omar married her brother, nor did he identify any charges being considered against her. Previous reporting has raised questions about aspects of Omar’s marriage history but has not established the central allegation. The Star Tribune examined records and communications related to Omar’s marriages in 2019 and reported discrepancies involving the timeline of her marriages and divorces. The reporting did not establish that Elmi was her brother. The New York Times also examined the allegations and reported that while questions had been raised about Omar’s personal history, there was no publicly available evidence demonstrating that Elmi was her sibling. In May, US President Trump once again told a crowd that he believes Omar “married her brother, which is totally illegal.” Marriage fraud is a federal crime in the US, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Omar has described the accusations as false and politically motivated.