DHS Chief Says Rep. Ilhan Omar Probe Is a Broad Law Enforcement Case, Not Political Targeting
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin declared the investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar a “large” case involving multiple defendants, pushing back against claims of political persecution.
“This is a large case that we have presented to the DOJ,” Mullin told Fox News. “We’re enforcing our nation’s laws, and we’re going to do that. We’re not weaponizing. We’re not using political theater on this.”
Mullin added that investigators will apply the law equally regardless of a person’s seat, party affiliation, or job title.
The New York Times reported that federal authorities examined Omar’s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi in 2016, during the Obama administration. Prosecutors declined to pursue a felony marriage‑fraud charge because the five‑year statute of limitations had expired, according to current and former officials.
Omar, whose legal name is Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, married Ahmed in 2009 and divorced in December 2017. She has repeatedly denied that Elmi, who is reportedly gay, is her brother.
“This isn’t just a case that’s targeting one individual. This is a large case that we have presented to the DOJ, and the DOJ is leading the investigations,” Mullin said.
Federal law bars knowingly marrying to obtain a green card, and all 50 states prohibit siblings from marrying, creating two potential criminal violations for Omar.
Omar’s former husband and suspected brother obtained a provisional two‑year green card after the 2009 marriage. He later abandoned the permanent‑status process when immigration officials requested additional evidence, then left the United States for the United Kingdom, The Daily Wire reported.
More than 100 Democrats signed a letter accusing the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department of weaponizing law enforcement against Omar because of her criticism of President Donald Trump, arguing the probe could influence her reelection chances.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries signed the letter, while roughly 40 House Democrats did not, according to The Daily Wire.
Among the signatories who did not join were Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D‑WA), Nancy Pelosi (D‑CA), Tom Suozzi (D‑NY), Laura Gillen (D‑NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D‑NJ).
Mullin rejected political prosecution claims, citing the Biden DOJ’s handling of investigations into former President Trump.
“We’re not the Democrat Party that came after their political enemies like President Trump, and they know they weaponized our DOJ and FBI. And it’s shameful, absolutely shameful, that they did that,” he said.
