Vice President JD Vance asserted Friday that Rep. Ilhan Omar "definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America."

In an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson, Vance revealed he recently spoke with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller about the matter. "We're trying to look at what the remedies are," Vance said. "That's the thing that we're trying to figure out: what are the legal remedies now that we know that she's committed immigration fraud? How do you go after her, how do you investigate her, how do you actually do the thing – how do you build a case necessary to get some justice for the American people?"

The allegation centers on claims that Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000, married her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, in a 2009 civil ceremony in Minnesota to help him secure legal status. Marriage fraud carries penalties of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Omar legally wed Elmi in February 2009, according to a Hennepin County marriage certificate, before dissolving the marriage in 2017 and marrying her long-term partner, Ahmed Hirsi, in 2018. The congresswoman has described the Elmi marriage as a brief and troubled period from her past. Somali community members, including blogger Abdihakim Osman, have claimed Omar introduced Elmi as her brother from London who was seeking immigration papers in the late 2000s.

These accusations first surfaced around 2016 on Somali-American forums and gained traction during Omar's 2018 congressional campaign. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the issue, linking it to broader concerns about fraud in Minnesota's Somali community.

Vance tied the claim to ongoing scrutiny of fraud in Minnesota, where the Trump administration has probed social services, child care, and Medicaid programs allegedly bilking taxpayers out of $250 million. He noted Omar's connections to some fraudsters but said it was unclear if she knew about specific schemes like those at the Quality Learning Center.

Omar's office dismissed Vance's remarks. Chief of staff Connor McNutt called it a "ridiculous lie and desperate attempt to distract from the pedophile protection party’s unpopular war of choice, increasing gas prices, and rapidly dropping polling numbers." Omar herself labeled similar past allegations "bigoted lies."

No formal investigation has been announced, though Vance's comments signal White House interest in pursuing the case. The vice president emphasized accountability, stating the administration aims to address immigration violations that previous efforts overlooked until the Trump return to power.

The exchange highlights escalating tensions over immigration enforcement, with the administration prioritizing high-profile cases amid its broader deportation push.