Ilhan Omar Denaturalization Threat: What It Means for You

What Homan said — and what it means

What if the deadline to protect your citizenship has already passed — and you never knew there was one? For Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a naturalized US citizen from Somalia, that fear became real on October 12, when federal agents raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone. Days later, on Saturday, Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan was asked directly on Fox News whether the investigation could lead to "denaturalizing and then deporting her." His answer: "Of course."

Homan explained the legal basis he was citing: "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." He also implied the government is looking at additional allegations beyond citizenship fraud — but refused to give details, saying: "I know things, but that's a question for the FBI." These were the first remarks explicitly linking denaturalization and deportation to Omar from a named top Trump administration official since the raid.

The government's theory, as described by former President Barack Obama in a post on X, is that Omar was actually 18 — not 17 — when her father became a naturalized citizen. Under US law, a child under 18 automatically becomes a citizen when a parent naturalizes. An 18-year-old would have had to apply separately. Omar's lawyers say she was 17, that she became a citizen automatically in 2000, and that there is "no legitimate basis for any suggestion that she has violated any law concerning her citizenship status." Her father, who filled out the original immigration paperwork, died in June 2020. Omar was eight years old when her family fled Somalia's civil war, and she spent years in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the US in the 1990s.

The broader crackdown on naturalized citizens

Omar's case is not isolated. As of April 2026, the US Justice Department had reportedly identified nearly 400 foreign-born citizens it sought to investigate for allegedly obtaining citizenship fraudulently. The administration has been pursuing dozens of denaturalization cases nationwide. Veterans at the Justice Department told NBC News they were shocked by the raid on a sitting congressperson so close to a midterm election. "Historically, the department has been very adamant that politics plays no role in investigative decisions," said Peter Carr, a former career Justice Department spokesperson. Omar's attorneys accused the Justice Department of potentially influencing an election in violation of longstanding internal policy. Obama warned on X: "If this becomes the new normal, there's no reason to believe it will stop with her."

What to do if you are a naturalized citizen

• Gather your naturalization records now. Locate your Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570), your original green card, and any immigration paperwork your parents filed on your behalf. Store copies in a safe place outside your home.
• Know your rights during a search. If federal agents come to your home with a search warrant, you do not have to answer questions. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Ask to see the warrant and note exactly what agents take.
• Contact an immigration lawyer if you received your citizenship as a minor through a parent. The Omar case shows the government is scrutinizing the exact age at which a parent naturalized and whether the child qualified for automatic citizenship. An attorney can review your file for any gaps.
• Do not ignore subpoenas. If you or a family member receives a subpoena related to an immigration investigation, consult an attorney immediately before responding. Anything you say can be used in denaturalization proceedings.

What to do, step by step — see our guide “The Path to U.S. Citizenship”.