This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
Ilhan Omar's meteoric rise to prominence in US politics has been a subject of fascination for many. The former refugee from Somalia, who was plucked from Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp, has been a vocal advocate for left-wing causes and has ticked virtually every identity-politics box: female, Muslim, black, a refugee, and an aggressive promoter of homosexuality.
However, her career has been marred by controversy and allegations of immigration fraud. In 2018, she was elected to the US House of Representatives, and since then, she has been going after the sacred cows of American politics with a refreshing – if foolish – gusto.
Ilhan has been critical of Barack Obama, declaring his eight-year presidency a failure, and has also accused Nancy Pelosi, her House Speaker and party boss, of being a racist. Her most provocative statements, however, have been targeted at Donald Trump, the showman in the White House, a man whose every principle Ilhan evidently hates.
But Ilhan's anti-Trumpism is not just about politics; it's also about winning back the favor of the Democratic Party establishment. Her arrogant, public deriding of Obama left her exposed, and her actions have been seen as an attempt to curry favor with the party.
Ilhan's personal life has also been shrouded in controversy. She has been accused of committing immigration fraud by pretending to be related to another Somali family already living in the US. Her brother was not present in the US at the time, and so – to get him American citizenship papers – Ilhan arranged a sham marriage to her own brother.
This 'marriage' was dissolved three years later once the brother had acquired American papers. Ilhan has refused to respond to persistent queries about her 'first husband', but evidence on her social media accounts appears to prove the allegations. Even worse, it seems she also committed perjury and financial fraud by aiding her brother-husband acquire US College funding.
As the allegations against her continue to mount, it seems the fiery girl from Dadaab will end up having a spectacular but brief life as an American legislator. Pride, they say, comes before a fall.
