Ilhan Omar - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Ilhan Omar is a Somali-American politician who currently serves as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
- 2. Omar was born on October 4, 1981, in Mogadishu, Somalia. She and her family fled the country during the Somali Civil War and spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before ultimately immigrating to the United States in 1995.
- 3. Ilhan Omar is the first Somali-American, the first naturalized citizen from Africa, and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. She took office on January 3, 2019.
- 4. Prior to her election to Congress, Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019, representing District 60B, which includes parts of Minneapolis.
- 5. Ilhan Omar is a progressive politician who advocates for a range of issues, including Medicare for All, criminal justice reform, immigration reform, and affordable housing. She is also a vocal critic of President Donald Trump's policies and rhetoric.
- 6. Omar has faced controversy during her time in office, particularly regarding her comments on Israel and the influence of the pro-Israel lobby in the United States. She has been accused of anti-Semitism, which she has denied, stating that she is critical of the Israeli government, not the Jewish people.
- 7. Ilhan Omar is a strong supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and has called for police reform and an end to systemic racism in the United States.
- 8. Omar is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has co-sponsored legislation such as the Green New Deal and the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
- 9. Ilhan Omar is married to Ahmed Hirsi and has three children. She is also the first Somali-American Muslim woman to be elected to a state legislature.
- 10. Despite facing criticism and controversy, Ilhan Omar remains a prominent voice in the Democratic Party and a champion for progressive causes in Congress. She continues to advocate for marginalized communities and fight for social and economic justice.