Homan, when asked by a Fox News host whether the investigation into Omar could involve “denaturalizing and then deporting her,” answered “Of course.” He added: “If you lie during the naturalization process, there is a process to denaturalize somebody. We’ve done it before. It’s a long, tedious process, but it’s been done before.” Homan also seemed to imply the federal government is investigating Omar for other allegations but declined to give details, saying “I know things, but that’s a question for the FBI.”
The federal investigation examines whether Omar or her family violated any laws when obtaining her citizenship. Omar, a naturalized US citizen from Somalia, was a child when her father filed the immigration paperwork now under scrutiny. Her father died in June 2020. The raid on Omar’s home led to the seizure of her phone and the issuance of more than a dozen subpoenas, including to her relatives.
Omar’s attorneys have demanded the return of her property and accused the justice department of potentially influencing an election in violation of internal policy. In a letter, they stated there is “no legitimate basis for any suggestion that she has violated any law concerning her citizenship status.” Omar herself posted on X that the raid was “an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” calling it the “latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation.” She said: “I will not be silenced.”
The investigation comes as the administration has intensified its anti-immigrant crackdown, with the justice department reportedly identifying nearly 400 foreign-born citizens for potential denaturalization proceedings as of April. Omar faces unsubstantiated accusations by rightwing figures that she obtained citizenship fraudulently, which she denies. She is on the ballot in the November midterm elections.