Sen. Ted Cruz said Rep. Ilhan Omar could face criminal charges, prison time and deportation if allegations that she married a sibling to gain U.S. immigration benefits are proven. Cruz pointed to potential federal marriage-fraud charges, Minnesota’s incest statute and possible tax-fraud exposure, listing maximum penalties for each. Omar, who arrived in the U.S. in 1995 and naturalized in 2000, has denied the allegation. The claim was recently revived by President Trump and remains unproven in public records.
Cruz Says Ilhan Omar Could Face Prison, Deportation If Alleged Brother-Marriage Is Proven
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, alleged that if the allegations that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., married her husband to enter the country were true, she'd be breaking a trio of federal and state laws.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Friday that if longstanding allegations that Rep. Ilhan Omar married a sibling to obtain U.S. immigration benefits are true, the Minnesota Democrat could be exposed to multiple criminal charges under federal and state law.
Cruz made the assertion after President Donald Trump revived the claim at a Pennsylvania rally and after a White House social media account suggested, "Yes, [Omar] married her brother." In a post on X, Cruz listed three statutes he said might apply and warned of potential criminal penalties.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on inflation at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
Cruz: If this is true, then Omar faces criminal liability under three different statutes.
Alleged Legal Violations and Potential Penalties
Federal Marriage Fraud: Cruz said Omar could be charged with marriage fraud if she knowingly entered into a marriage to evade immigration laws. A conviction on that federal felony can carry up to five years in prison, fines up to $250,000 and possible deportation.
Minnesota Incest Statute: Cruz also noted that Minnesota law prohibits certain marriages between close relatives; if a sibling marriage occurred, that statute could apply. Minnesota’s incest law is a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., sits with husband Tim Mynett during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.
Tax-Fraud Exposure: Cruz suggested potential tax consequences if joint returns were filed while a legal marriage did not exist. He said such tax-related offenses could carry fines of up to $100,000 and up to three years in prison depending on the specific charges and conduct.
Background And Response
Omar was born in Somalia, arrived in the United States in 1995 after her family was granted asylum, and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Public records and her disclosures show an early religious marriage to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi in 2002, a 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi followed by a divorce, a later legal marriage to Hirsi, and a 2020 marriage to political aide Tim Mynett.
The claim that Omar married a sibling to gain immigration benefits has circulated for years and has been repeatedly denied by Omar. The allegation remains unproven in the public record. At the rally, President Trump reiterated the accusation and called for her removal from the country. Fox News Digital did not immediately receive a response from Omar’s office.
Context
Legal experts note that allegations alone do not establish criminal liability; proving offenses such as marriage fraud, incest or tax fraud would require evidence, formal charges and judicial proceedings. The senator’s remarks revive a controversy that has followed Omar since she entered public life, but as of now the claims remain unverified.
