Minnesota Now with Nina Moini

Lawyer explains denaturalization as Trump administration pursues investigation of Rep. Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., listens during a Congressional spotlight hearing on Capitol Hill, Sept. 22, 2026, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein | AP file

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Trump administration’s investigation into Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is aimed at building a case to revoke her citizenship and eventually deport her. MPR News has not independently confirmed that.

Trump administration officials have suggested the investigation relates to alleged immigration fraud. The Department of Justice searched Omar’s Washington D.C. home Monday.

A spokesperson for Omar said the investigation is politically motivated and that, “Trump’s push to strip her of her citizenship and deport her has no basis in the law and has no precedent.”

There’s a lot we don’t know about the DOJ’s investigation. But it’s happening alongside a wider effort by the Trump administration to bring forward more denaturalization cases.

Immigration attorney David Wilson joined Minnesota Now to help explain what that process entails.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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