US authorities seize Ilhan Omar's DNA sample, Trump says she can be jailed, deported

US authorities have reportedly obtained Somalia-born Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's DNA and seized her passport as part of an investigation into her citizenship, even as President Donald Trump threatens her with jail or deportation. With the November 3 midterm elections days away, the probe has intensified Trump's long-running feud with the Minnesota Democrat.

In Short

• US authorities reportedly seize Omar's DNA and passport in citizenship probe
• Donald Trump says the Somali-born congresswoman could face deportation or jail
• Obama backs Omar as the probe intensifies ahead of the November 3 midterms

Ilhan Omar, the Somalia-born US congresswoman who has been a frequent target of US President Donald Trump, is facing a federal citizenship probe that has taken a drastic turn.

Investigators have reportedly obtained her DNA and seized her passport after searching her Washington home on October 12. With the midterm elections on November 3 just less than two weeks away, Trump has said Omar could be deported or jailed.

"I think she's a sick, a very dishonest person who hates our country," Trump said during an Oval Office event. Calling Omar "a disgrace to our country", he added that she "could also go to jail." The investigation is reportedly examining allegations about her age on immigration documents filed decades ago, but authorities have not publicly explained what the reported DNA evidence is meant to establish.

The New York Post reported that investigators have obtained DNA evidence as part of an inquiry into allegations that Omar married her brother and committed immigration fraud. These allegations remain unproven. According to the newspaper, investigators are examining DNA evidence, government records and information from whistleblowers to determine whether Omar and members of her family committed immigration fraud.

Fox News congressional correspondent Bill Melugin said on X that investigators had the DNA and passport as "evidence". He added that the passport issued through Omar's congressional office had not been retrieved and that authorities did not believe she had fled the country.

In a video message shared after the raid, Omar appealed directly to supporters for continued financial help, thanking those who had already given money to her campaign, and urging others to contribute whatever they could. She described the coming period as "very expensive and challenging", framed the federal action as an attempt to intimidate her and other critics ahead of the midterms, and insisted she would not be silenced or deterred from campaigning.

WHAT IS ILHAN OMAR'S CITIZENSHIP PROBE ABOUT?

The investigation centres on allegations that Omar or her late father might have provided inaccurate information about her age on immigration documents decades ago. The question is whether any discrepancy could have affected her eligibility for US citizenship through her father.

Born in Somalia, Omar arrived in the US as a child after spending time in a refugee camp in Kenya. She became a US citizen in 2000. Under US immigration law, certain children born outside the country can acquire citizenship through a parent who becomes a US citizen, subject to conditions including age, lawful permanent residency and custody.

The allegations concerning Omar's immigration history have circulated for years. However, the existence of an investigation does not establish that she committed fraud or that her citizenship can be revoked. The government would need to establish a legal basis for any action against her citizenship, and such a move could be challenged in court.

Omar has rejected the allegations and described the search as political intimidation. Her lawyers have also challenged the seizure of her belongings and demanded their return, arguing that there was no legitimate basis for the investigation, reported CBS News. Reports have said agents took her phone and other materials during the search.

A separate report by Fox News said investigators had obtained DNA evidence, but it remains unclear from publicly available information how the sample was collected or what it is intended to establish. Claims that agents obtained it by "searching garbage bins" have been disputed by reports. The authorities have not publicly detailed the evidence or explained its relevance to the citizenship enquiry.

TRUMP'S LONG-RUNNING FEUD WITH OMAR

Omar, the first Somali American elected to the US Congress, has been one of Trump's most persistent targets. The President has repeatedly attacked her in public, questioned her loyalty to the US, and made disparaging remarks about Somalia. He has also previously promoted unsubstantiated allegations about her personal life.

Trump has now suggested that Omar could be deported, while also saying she could go to jail.

On the other hand, former US president Barack Obama on October 18 publicly defended Omar, criticising the federal enquiry as an alarming use of government power against an elected official who has been outspoken in her opposition to Trump. Obama argued that pursuing a lawmaker over an unsubstantiated theory about her citizenship could set a troubling precedent for future administrations.

The White House, however, has denied that the investigation is politically motivated. The administration has maintained that the Justice Department is focussed on enforcing the law and protecting public safety.

Ilhan Omar has also drawn criticism in India for her positions on Kashmir, particularly her 2022 visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which New Delhi condemned as a violation of India's territorial integrity. She has also criticised India's handling of Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 and raised allegations of discrimination against Muslims. She also introduced a resolution in the US Congress in June 2022 seeking to designate India a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations.

WHY THE TIMING OF ILHAN OMAR'S CASE MATTERS

The search of Omar's home took place a fortnight before the November midterm elections, in which she is seeking re-election in Minnesota. It must be noted that Trump's approval ratings have been at a record low due to the Iran war and inflation in the US.

Following the raid, Omar's campaign issued urgent fundraising appeals urging supporters to contribute any sum they could manage — whether $5, $10 or $20, or whatever amount they felt able to give — calling the probe political intimidation. Critics quickly called the appeals "begging".

The fundraising appeals, however, have drawn financial support from allies, but the specifics of how much money has been raised are not publicly known.

Omar's public absence since the search has also fuelled speculation about her whereabouts. However, reports citing Fox News said members of her family had been seen at the Washington residence, while her husband had also been seen in public. Authorities, according to Fox News, were reportedly not concerned that she had left the country.

With the midterms approaching, the probe against Omar and Trump's escalating threats have added to an already bitter political battle, with its legal and electoral consequences yet to unfold.

- Ends
(Written by Anand Singh)