Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Official Suggests Denaturalizing Rep. Ilhan Omar
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Homan’s Fox News Remarks and Home Raid
On October 12, federal agents raided Representative Ilhan Omar’s Minnesota home as part of a Justice Department investigation into her naturalization. During a Saturday appearance on Fox News that same day, Tom Homan, the administration’s “border czar,” said the government could “of course” strip Omar of her citizenship and deport her if evidence warranted it. Homan added that lying during naturalization triggers a denaturalization process that has been used before.
Background & Context: Broader Denaturalization Drive
The Justice Department has reportedly identified nearly 400 foreign-born citizens it seeks to investigate for alleged fraud in obtaining U.S. citizenship. This effort is part of a wider anti-immigrant crackdown intensified in the weeks leading up to the November midterm elections, in which Omar is seeking reelection. Omar, a Somali-born naturalized citizen since 2000, arrived in the United States with her father in the 1990s after fleeing civil war. Former President Barack Obama has noted that she became a citizen automatically when her father naturalized, saying she was 12 years old at arrival and 17 when her father’s citizenship took effect.
Official Statements & Responses
Omar’s attorneys, in a letter to the Justice Department, called the raid a violation of internal policy and demanded the return of seized property. Obama issued a social-media post condemning the administration’s approach, warning that using federal power to punish elected officials for criticism threatens democratic norms.
Criticism & Opposition
He warned that normalizing such tactics could set a precedent affecting officials from either party. Omar’s legal team asserted there is “no legitimate basis” for any claim that she violated citizenship laws.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you lie during the naturalization process, there is a process to denaturalize somebody,” — Tom Homan
- “I’m not going to go there,” — Tom Homan
- “We’ve done it before. It’s a long and difficult process, but it has happened before,” — Tom Homan
- “If this becomes the new normal, there is no reason to believe it will stop with Omar, or that future presidents from either party will not do the same thing,” — Barack Obama, former US president
