Texas Rep. Brandon Gill ignited a political firestorm on Tuesday when he publicly called for Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) to be deported back to Somalia.
“America would be a better place if @IlhanMN were deported back to Somalia,” Gill wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
America would be a better place if @IlhanMN were deported back to Somalia. https://t.co/ABjBQX9DXx
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) February 4, 2025
The statement, coming from a first-term Texas Republican, underscores the growing battle over immigration and national identity as President Donald Trump pushes forward with his aggressive deportation agenda.
Trump’s Crackdown on Immigration Gains Support
Gill’s comments come as Trump begins enacting his sweeping deportation plan, a cornerstone of his 2024 campaign and a major reason for the Republican wave that returned him to office.
Polling indicates strong public support for immigration enforcement. A New York Times/Ipsos poll from January found:
- 55% of voters support Trump’s mass deportation policies.
- 88% support deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records.
As Trump reasserts his tough stance, Democrats like Omar are digging in, openly advising illegal immigrants on how to avoid deportation.
Omar Caught Coaching Illegal Immigrants on Evading ICE
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced of Omar instructing undocumented Somalis on how to handle encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
“You are not obligated to answer their questions. Just state that you are advised by a lawyer not to answer questions,” Omar told a reporter. “Disclosure of your name, immigration status, and the mode of entry is not mandatory.”
Her comments sparked backlash from conservatives, who argue that a sitting U.S. congresswoman should not be giving advice on how to defy immigration enforcement.
Musk and Republicans Fire Back
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk blasted Omar for her remarks, writing on X, “She is breaking the law. Literally. Outright.”
She is breaking the law. Literally. Outright. https://t.co/T4mrPDvcNy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2025
Gill followed with an even stronger rebuke:
“We should have never let Ilhan Omar into our country.”
A spokesperson for Gill later elaborated, saying, “Representative Omar’s conduct raises questions about to whom she is most loyal—the American people or illegal aliens from Somalia.”
The exchange reignited a long-standing feud between Omar and conservatives, particularly after previous accusations that she has downplayed or excused radical elements within her Somali-American community.
Leftists Scramble to Defend Omar
Omar quickly responded to Musk and Gill, accusing them of misrepresenting her comments.
“Hey Elon, every single person in this country deserves to know their rights. That’s legal. Maybe you should brush up on our laws given the fact you’re breaking them to steal Americans’ sensitive data,” she wrote on X.
Hey Elon👋🏽 Every single person in this country deserves to know their rights. That's legal.
Maybe you should brush up on our laws given the fact you're breaking them to steal American's sensitive data.
PS. This video is manipulated, and I wasn't even at the event shown. pic.twitter.com/arR8ddCtga
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 4, 2025
She later appeared on CNN, dismissing the backlash as ignorance.
“It just shows you how much he lacks an understanding of what the laws of the country are,” Omar said.
The Bigger Picture: Immigration War Heats Up
The heated exchange between Gill, Musk, and Omar highlights the deep divisions in U.S. politics over immigration enforcement.
Republicans are moving full steam ahead with Trump’s hardline agenda, while Democrats scramble to regroup and resist.
With mass deportations already underway and congressional Republicans backing Trump’s policies, Omar’s defiance is unlikely to change the course America has chosen. The question is: how far will Democrats go to protect illegal immigrants, even at the expense of national security?
