Trump says Congresswoman Ilhan Omar ‘could go to jail’ over immigration investigation

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) – US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar could face prison, not just deportation, over questions about her age in a federal immigration investigation.

Asked at the Oval Office whether Omar could be deported if there is a problem with her age, Trump said: “Well, she could be. She could also go to jail.”

“You know, they keep talking about deportation. No, she could go to jail. This is just my opinion,” he said.

Federal agents searched Rep. Omar’s house earlier this month in an immigration fraud probe targeting the congresswoman over possible false statements made on government documents and a potential conspiracy. Homeland Security agents seized her phone, laptops, notebooks, and passport.

Investigators are examining whether Omar or her late father lied about her age when she obtained citizenship in 2000. Omar denied the accusations, saying that she came to the US at the age of 12, in 1995, and gained citizenship at 17.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is seeking to revoke her citizenship and eventually deport her.

Omar condemned the raid as politically motivated.

“Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” she wrote on X. “This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation.”

Omar, the US’ first Somali American member of Congress, has served in the US House of Representatives since 2019.

Rabia İclal Turan