Obama defends Ilhan Omar in a new social media statement, accusing the Trump administration of using federal power to target political opponents amid an investigation into the Minnesota congresswoman’s citizenship.
In a series of posts Sunday on X, former President Barack Obama argued that federal officials are attempting to revoke Rep. Ilhan Omar’s U.S. citizenship and deport her because of her criticism of former President Donald Trump. He warned the approach could set a dangerous precedent for how dissent is handled in the United States.
“It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say,” Obama wrote, adding that this is what he believes is happening to the Minnesota lawmaker.
Obama defends Ilhan Omar as federal probe intensifies
Obama’s comments followed news that federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence as part of a criminal investigation into her immigration history, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Investigators are reviewing whether Omar or her father provided inaccurate information on immigration documents when she obtained U.S. citizenship decades ago, according to sources briefed on the probe.
Obama said Omar came to the United States with her father at age 12 and became a citizen at 17 when her father was naturalized, which would have conferred citizenship to her automatically as a minor. He criticized what he called an “unsubstantiated theory” that Omar was actually 18 at the time, which would have required her to apply for citizenship independently.
“The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president,” Obama wrote.
For more coverage of investigations involving the Minnesota congresswoman, see Ilhan Omar HSI raid: Husband speaks as probes widen.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available. For background on federal immigration and citizenship processes, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, and for information on the legislative role of members of Congress, see the official U.S. Congress portal.
