Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Mullin Revives Unproven Claim That Ilhan Omar Married Brother
Markwayne Mullin said that Ilhan Omar married her brother to help him enter the United States.
He made this accusation during a televised political event.
The claim is about Omar’s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi.
Critics have said Elmi was Omar’s brother, but no public evidence has proved that.
Earlier investigations raised questions about Omar’s marriages but did not establish a sibling relationship.
Omar says the allegation is false and politically motivated.
The Department of Homeland Security says it does not discuss ongoing investigations.
So far, the accusation has been repeated publicly without a court ruling or publicly released proof.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed that Representative Ilhan Omar married her brother to help him enter the United States.
Mullin made the allegation during a Republican National Convention discussion with conservative commentator Benny Johnson.
The claim concerns Omar’s 2009 marriage to British citizen Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, whom critics allege was her brother.
No public evidence has established that Elmi was Omar’s sibling, and no court has ruled that she committed immigration fraud.
Omar has called the allegation false and politically motivated, while the Department of Homeland Security declined to discuss any ongoing investigation.
- Who
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin made the allegation against Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar; Omar rejected it.
- What
- Mullin claimed Omar married her brother to help him enter the United States and suggested her family’s migration might warrant further investigation.
- When
- Mullin made the claim on Thursday during the Republican National Convention; the underlying marriage occurred in 2009.
- Where
- The allegation was made during a convention-stage discussion with Benny Johnson.
- Why
- Mullin said the matter involved possible wrongdoing and an ongoing investigation, while Omar said the allegation was politically motivated.
Investigation and Allegation
Denial and Lack of Proof
Whether Omar committed immigration fraud
Investigation and Allegation
Markwayne Mullin alleged that Omar married her brother to bring him into the United States and said the matter could involve an ongoing investigation.
Denial and Lack of Proof
Omar called the claim false and politically motivated, while the available reporting cited no court ruling or public evidence proving immigration fraud.
Meaning of the marriage records
Investigation and Allegation
Critics point to Omar’s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi and questions about the timing of her marriages and divorces.
Denial and Lack of Proof
Investigations by the Star Tribune and The New York Times raised questions but did not establish that Elmi was Omar’s biological brother.
Political motivation
Investigation and Allegation
Mullin said that if a case moves forward, it would be an actual legal case rather than a political one.
Denial and Lack of Proof
Omar has characterized the allegation as a politically motivated distraction from other government business.
- Accuser
- Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security Secretary
- Person accused
- Ilhan Omar, Democratic Representative
- Marriage at issue
- Omar married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi in 2009; they divorced in 2017.
- Allegation
- Critics claim Elmi was Omar’s brother and that the marriage facilitated immigration fraud.
- Public evidence
- The articles state that no public evidence has confirmed a sibling relationship.
- Investigations
- The Star Tribune and The New York Times examined the claims but did not prove that Elmi was Omar’s brother.
- Official response
- The Department of Homeland Security declined to discuss an alleged ongoing investigation.