WASHINGTON — Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, said the administration is reviewing allegations of possible immigration fraud involving Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), reigniting a long-running and highly contentious political controversy.
Speaking Monday on Newsmax, Homan said he recently discussed the matter with a senior fraud investigator from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is now pursuing a review of relevant immigration records.
“I just got advised by a fraud investigator the other day on that,” Homan said. “I asked the question, can we review the files? You know, there was immigration fraud involved. The statute of limitations became an issue in the last four years when this was first brought up.”
Homan added that the investigator—whom he described as one of HSI’s most experienced—believes the case merits examination.
“We’re pulling the records now, pulling the files, and we’re looking at it,” Homan said. “There’s no doubt he’d review the file. So I’m running that down this week, and we’ll see.”
Longstanding Allegations, Firm Denials
The allegations referenced by Homan stem from claims promoted by President Trump and some conservative figures that Omar married her brother in order to obtain U.S. immigration benefits—an accusation Omar has repeatedly and forcefully denied.
Omar was born in Somalia in 1982. Her family fled the country during the civil war when she was eight years old, spending several years in a refugee camp in Kenya before being granted asylum and arriving in the United States in 1995. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000 at the age of 17.
Newsweek reached out to Omar’s office for comment.
Trump Escalates Rhetoric
President Trump revived the allegation during a rally this week, using inflammatory language while calling for Omar’s removal from the country. His remarks drew immediate backlash from Democrats and civil rights groups, who condemned them as racist and dangerous.
Omar responded on X, writing, “Trump’s obsession with me is beyond weird. He needs serious help. Since he has no economic policies to tout, he’s resorting to regurgitating bigoted lies instead. He continues to be a national embarrassment.”
DHS Response
In a statement to Newsweek, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that DHS treats all marriage fraud allegations seriously, while stopping short of confirming any specific investigation into Omar.
“Our message is clear: do not engage in marriage fraud or you will face the consequences of American justice including severe fines, arrest, jail time and deportation,” McLaughlin said. “Marriage fraud undermines the integrity of America’s immigration system.”
Immigration Enforcement Context
The renewed controversy comes as immigration enforcement remains a central focus of the Trump administration. DHS announced this week that enforcement operations have resulted in more than 605,000 deportations since January 20, with an additional 1.9 million individuals reportedly self-deporting voluntarily since January 2025.
Trump’s comments also arrive amid heightened rhetoric targeting Minnesota’s Somali community, which Omar represents as the first Somali American elected to Congress.
“No matter what words Trump throws at me, I will not let that deter my work for the people of the Fifth District,” Omar said. “Trump should know by now that he should never pick a fight with a Somali woman.”
As of now, no formal charges or findings related to the allegations have been announced, and any review remains in its preliminary stages.
Campaign-Shaking Moment: Kennedy’s $20B Question Sparks Fallout for Gavin Newsom 
WASHINGTON — It was supposed to be a coronation. It ended as a political autopsy.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), widely considered the presumptive Democratic frontrunner for the 2028 presidential nomination, walked into the Senate hearing room looking like he owned the place. Six hours later, he walked out with his national ambitions in tatters, the victim of a surgical political dismantling by Senator John Kennedy (R-LA).
The weapon of choice wasn\’t a scandal or a leaked tape. It was a single, devastating question about $20 billion.
The Trap Snaps Shut
Witnesses describe Newsom’s arrival as confident, bordering on arrogant. Dressed in a $3,000 suit and flanked by aides, he appeared ready to lecture the committee on the virtues of the “California Model.” He clearly underestimated Kennedy, dismissing the Oxford-educated Senator as a “folksy country lawyer.”
Kennedy played the part to perfection. He cleaned his glasses. He shuffled his papers. He smiled warmly. “Almost want to move to California,” Kennedy drawled.
Then, the trap snapped. Kennedy dropped the “folksy” act and hit Newsom with cold, hard Census data. “You say California is a model,” Kennedy growled.
“Then why did 1.2 million people leave in three years?”
When Newsom attempted to blame the exodus on retiring seniors, Kennedy cut him off with the demographic reality: “Families. Working people. The tax base. They aren\’t retiring, Governor. They are fleeing.”
The $20 Billion Nightmare
But the defining moment—the clip that is currently breaking view count records across every social media platform—came when Kennedy turned to the issue of homelessness.
Holding up a thick stack of financial reports, Kennedy delivered the blow.
“You spent $20 billion on homelessness. With a ‘B’.” Kennedy paused, peering over his glasses. “Did the numbers go down?”
Newsom froze. The “Golden Boy” stammered about “systemic factors” and “complexity.” Kennedy didn\’t let him breathe.
“Did. They. Go. Down?”
“They went up 30%,” Kennedy answered for him.
“That\’s a Racket”
Then, Kennedy did the math live on air, a calculation that will likely haunt Newsom for the rest of his life. “$20 billion divided by the homeless population equals **$111,000 per person**,” Kennedy declared. “You could have bought them a house, Governor. Instead, the problem got worse.”
As Newsom sat in stunned silence, Kennedy delivered the final verdict: “That’s not a model, Governor. That’s a racket.”
The Fallout
Kennedy proceeded to twist the knife, bringing up the $128 billion “Train to Nowhere” and Newsom’s infamous French Laundry dinner during the lockdowns. “Rules for thee, but not for me,” Kennedy scoffed.