US Representative Randy Fine has threatened to pursue the expulsion of Ilhan Omar, a Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota, if the US Department of Justice finds her guilty of immigration fraud.
Fine, a Republican from Florida and member of the House Freedom Caucus, made the statement during an interview with Fox News Digital following reports about a federal court filing that listed Omar as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi” and “Ilhan Abdullahi Omar” as an alias.
The filing has raised questions about Omar’s identity and immigration records but does not establish that she committed fraud.
“I assume that she’s not a citizen, so we might not even have to do that,” Fine said.
“You can’t be in Congress if you’re not a citizen of the United States, but if it isn’t automatic, I absolutely will demand expulsion immediately.”
However, Omar is a naturalised US citizen. Born in Somalia, she became an American citizen in 2000. She has denied wrongdoing and described the investigation as politically motivated.
Fine also accused Democrats of being likely to oppose any Republican attempt to censure or expel Omar.
The congressman further criticised Representative Delia Ramirez, a Democrat from Illinois, over her Reimagining Safety Act, introduced in September.
The proposed legislation seeks to dismantle the Department of Homeland Security and abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, while transferring some of their functions to a proposed Department of Community Safety.
Fine also questioned Democrats’ criticism of the Justice Department’s investigation into Omar, citing a separate inquiry into her financial disclosures that began in 2024 under former President Joe Biden.
Omar’s Washington, DC, residence was searched by Homeland Security Investigations agents on October 12 as part of a federal investigation into possible false statements in immigration and naturalisation documents.
The federal authorities have also issued grand jury subpoenas to members of Omar’s family and seized her cellphone.
The US House of Representatives has the constitutional power to expel one of its members, but such a move requires a two-thirds majority vote. An investigation or allegation alone does not automatically remove a lawmaker from office.
