GOP Lawmaker Threatens Expulsion Bid Against Ilhan Omar Over DOJ Inquiry
Rep. Randy Fine said he would seek to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from Congress if the Justice Department concludes she committed immigration fraud. The Florida Republican cited a court filing that listed Omar under another name, though the document does not establish fraud. Omar, a naturalized citizen, denies wrongdoing and says the inquiry is driven by politics.
Rep. Randy Fine, a Florida Republican and Freedom Caucus member, said he would push to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar if the Justice Department concludes she committed immigration fraud. He also suggested her citizenship could be challenged, though Omar was naturalized in 2000 after being born in Somalia.
A court document listed Omar as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi” and gave “Ilhan Abdullahi Omar” as another name, but it does not prove fraud. Expulsion would need a two-thirds House vote; an allegation or investigation alone does not remove a member. Omar denies misconduct and calls the inquiry political.
The dispute could deepen public distrust over how immigration status and citizenship are debated in Congress, especially for naturalized citizens and immigrant communities who may see the allegations as stigmatizing. It may also intensify partisan fights over congressional discipline and DOJ investigations, affecting lawmakers’ willingness to engage in oversight. Because expulsion requires a high threshold and no finding has been made, the immediate institutional impact may remain limited, though the rhetoric could influence public perceptions.