The longstanding allegation that the Minnesota congresswoman married a relative remains unproven, and no court has found that she committed immigration fraud
By Midtown Times Staff
October 29, 2026
WASHINGTON (Midtown Times) — Federal agents reportedly began examining Rep. Ilhan Omar’s 2009 marriage during the Obama administration, years before the Trump administration revived scrutiny of the Minnesota Democrat’s immigration history.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations opened an inquiry during the summer of 2016 after allegations circulated that Omar had entered a fraudulent marriage with British citizen Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, according to current and former officials cited by The New York Times and Fox News.
Those officials reportedly said agents uncovered information suggesting that the marriage may not have been genuine. Prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges, however, after concluding that the suspected conduct fell outside the applicable five-year statute of limitations. The precise evidence collected during that inquiry has not been publicly disclosed or tested in court.
A source cited by Fox News said the investigation was ultimately closed in 2021 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota. No charges were filed.
At the time the allegations first surfaced in 2016, then-U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger publicly denied that his office was investigating Omar or had requested an immigration investigation. The newly reported accounts suggest that federal agents may nevertheless have conducted a preliminary inquiry independently.
Longstanding allegation remains unresolved
Omar legally married Elmi in 2009 and divorced him in 2017. Critics have repeatedly claimed that Elmi was her biological brother and that the marriage was intended to help him obtain immigration benefits.
Omar has consistently denied those accusations, describing them as false, discriminatory and politically motivated. Previous reviews by journalists and fact-checking organizations found questions surrounding the marriage timeline but did not uncover conclusive evidence that Elmi was her brother.
Although anonymous officials reportedly told the Times that the 2016 investigators found information suggesting a sibling relationship, it remains unclear what that information was. No government agency has publicly released evidence establishing such a relationship, and no court has ruled that Omar’s marriage was fraudulent.
New investigation underway
The matter has resurfaced as part of a broader federal investigation into immigration and naturalization documents submitted by Omar and members of her family decades ago.
Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington residence on Oct. 12 and issued subpoenas to several relatives. Authorities are reportedly examining whether incorrect information was provided concerning Omar’s age, identity or family history when her family entered the United States and later sought citizenship. Omar has not been charged with a crime.
The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to keep the search-warrant materials sealed, saying investigators are still reviewing evidence and have not decided whether charges should be filed or against whom.
Omar has called the current investigation an attempt by the Trump administration to intimidate a political opponent shortly before the midterm elections. President Donald Trump and other administration officials have repeatedly accused her of immigration fraud.
Until investigators disclose their evidence or bring a case in court, the claims against Omar remain allegations—not established facts.
