Representative Ilhan Omar, the Somali-born Democrat from Minnesota, has been expelled from Congress, stripped of her U.S. citizenship, and deported to Somalia following an unprecedented series of legal and political actions. The move comes after weeks of heated debate in Washington and across the nation, as opponents accused her of supporting Hamas and committing immigration fraud—allegations she has long denied.
The expulsion began with a resolution introduced in the House of Representatives, spearheaded by a coalition of lawmakers who claimed Omar’s public statements and policy positions amounted to sympathy for what they called “a designated terrorist organization.” The resolution cited her repeated criticisms of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and her calls for a ceasefire, which detractors interpreted as tacit support for Hamas. Omar, who has been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, dismissed the accusations as politically motivated and rooted in prejudice.
Following her removal from Congress by a majority vote, federal authorities launched a separate inquiry into her immigration history. Investigators alleged that she had misrepresented certain details during her naturalization process years earlier, a claim that had surfaced in right-wing media circles in the past but had never been proven in court. This time, however, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice moved forward, arguing that the discrepancies were sufficient grounds to revoke her citizenship.
The denaturalization process was swift by federal standards. Within weeks, a court ruled in favor of the government’s petition, effectively stripping Omar of her status as a U.S. citizen. Under immigration law, that left her without legal standing to remain in the country. Deportation proceedings followed, culminating in her removal to Somalia, the country she fled as a child refugee during its civil war.
In her final statement before leaving the United States, Omar condemned the actions against her as an “egregious abuse of power” and a “chilling sign for American democracy.” She said the case set a dangerous precedent that political dissent could be punished not just by removal from office but by erasing one’s citizenship altogether. “This is not about me,” she told reporters. “This is about silencing anyone who dares to challenge U.S. foreign policy or stand with oppressed peoples abroad.”
Her supporters, including progressive Democrats and civil rights organizations, decried the sequence of events as a politically charged vendetta. They pointed out that denaturalization is an extraordinarily rare and severe penalty, historically used only in cases involving war crimes, espionage, or severe fraud. The American Civil Liberties Union warned that the move “weaponizes the immigration system against political opponents,” while immigrant advocacy groups said it could have a chilling effect on millions of naturalized citizens who might fear losing their status for political reasons.
Conservative lawmakers and commentators, however, hailed the outcome as a victory for national security and the integrity of U.S. citizenship. They argued that Omar’s rhetoric and activism crossed the line from political speech into dangerous advocacy that undermined American interests abroad. “Citizenship is a privilege, not a shield for those who work against our country,” one Republican senator said in a televised interview. “If you commit fraud to obtain it, and you openly support America’s enemies, you forfeit that privilege.”
International reaction was mixed. The Somali government issued a brief statement acknowledging her arrival but offered no further comment on the circumstances. In Europe and parts of the Middle East, political leaders and human rights organizations criticized the United States for what they described as a disproportionate and politically motivated act. Social media lit up with debate, with hashtags supporting and condemning the decision trending simultaneously.
Omar’s expulsion leaves Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District temporarily without representation until a special election can be held. Several candidates have already announced plans to run, with both major parties seeing the contest as a symbolic battle over the district’s political direction.
For Omar, the future remains uncertain. While she has vowed to continue her activism from abroad, legal experts say the chances of her regaining U.S. citizenship are slim. Still, she appeared resolute as she departed, saying she would not be silenced. “I may be forced out of the United States,” she said, “but I will not abandon the fight for justice, equality, and peace—no matter where I am.”
The case is likely to be remembered as one of the most controversial political expulsions in modern American history, raising profound questions about the intersection of citizenship, free speech, and partisan politics in a deeply divided nation.
