DeSantis Calls For Expelling, Deporting Omar
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) called for the House of Representatives to expel Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) following comments she made regarding the potential expansion of the country of her birth, Somalia. She also said that her “first priority” was Somalia, rather than the United States of America.
DeSantis’ comments came after the representative spoke to a number of Somali American constituents, calling for Somalia to expand beyond its current borders. She made the speech in the Somali language.
“The U.S. is a country where one of your daughters is in Congress to represent your interest,” she said.
“For as long as I am in the U.S. Congress, Somalia will never be in danger, its waters will not be stolen by Ethiopia or others,” she said. “Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the US system.”
“Expel from Congress, denaturalize and deport!” DeSantis wrote on social media.
Rep. Ilhan Omar refers to Somalia as "our nation back home"
She needs to be expelled and deported
pic.twitter.com/g1Eq3C9eu1— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 30, 2024
There is recent precedent to expel members of the House. Last year, former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was expelled following accusation of misusing donated funds. The representative’s expulsion was supported by some Republican members of the House.
The House has the power to remove its own members by a two-thirds vote. However, the likelihood of Omar being removed is unclear. Another member of the ‘Squad,’ Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) is currently under investigation following accusations of improper payments to her husband to provide security.
Omar’s comments also come as Somalia has suffered more than three decades of civil war following the collapse of a socialist regime. Despite an American military intervention in 1992, the country does not have a stable government.
The instability has allowed for Islamist groups such as ISIS to grow in the country, leading to a number of American airstrikes.
Omar’s recent comments came after a relatively stable breakaway part of the country signed a deal with nearby Ethiopia promising access to the sea. Omar sought to have parts of Ethiopia and Kenya that spoke Somali to be annexed to the failed state.