Partially recognized Horn of Africa nation Somaliland called for firebrand “Squad” Rep. Ilhan Omar to be extradited after Vice President JD Vance claimed she committed immigration fraud — promising the White House would “go after” her.
“Deportation? Please you’re just sending the princess back to her kingdom. Extradition? Say the word …” the republic’s official X account wrote in response.
Somaliland has been a self-governing territory since 1991, however, most countries, including the US, don’t formally recognize it as an independent country.
Somali-born Omar has voiced opposition to the republic being recognized.
Minnesota Rep. and “Squad” member Ilhan Omar has denied any such allegations. AP
Vance made the comments in a podcast interview with conservative host Benny Johnson in a wide-ranging conversation, including her possible ties to widespread human services fraud in Minnesota connected to some members of the Somali community.
“Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America,” Vance claimed of the Minnesota congresswoman.
The partially recognized African republic has no love lost for Omar, who has vocally opposed its recognition as an independent state. Republic of Somaliland/X
Vice President JD Vance made the accusation in an interview with conservative podcast host Benny Johnson. AP
“What are the legal remedies now that we know she’s committed immigration fraud? How do you go after her? How do you investigate her? How do you actually build the case to actually get some justice for the American people?” he said during the discussion.
The veep also called for a probe to uncover what Omar knew about the Minnesota fraud, claiming she’s been “at the center” of the scheme that has seen more than a billion dollars siphoned from needy families and resulted in dozens of arrests, many of them Somali immigrants.
Omar has been dogged by allegations over her first marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a UK national.
Minneapolis-based Somali blogger and community leader Abdihakim Osman told the Daily Mail in 2020 that he knew Omar when the two were growing up in Minnesota — and said she had introduced Elmi as her brother from London to community members in the late 2000s.
Omar would tell people at the time that her sibling was looking for “papers,” referencing immigration documents such as a green card.
Omar has consistently denied the allegations — which President Trump has also alluded to — calling them “bigoted lies” and accusing President Trump of being obsessed with her.
