News outlets falsely report Somaliland called for extradition of Ilhan Omar
News outlets falsely report Somaliland called for extradition of Ilhan Omar
Multiple media organizations inaccurately claimed that Somaliland’s government sought the extradition of US Representative Ilhan Omar, relying on a post from an X account that does not represent the state. Fox News, the New York Post, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s National News Desk, and the Independent featured stories on the Democratic representative, citing a reaction to JD Vance’s allegations of immigration fraud. The post, published by @RepOfSomaliland, stated: “Deportation? Please you’re just sending the princess back to her kingdom. Extradition? Say the word…”
Account not officially linked to Somaliland
Somaliland’s foreign ministry clarified that the X account in question was not an authorized government channel. In December, the ministry publicly noted that it had begun identifying social media accounts not affiliated with the state, emphasizing they lacked authority to speak on its behalf. A statement released to the Guardian on Monday reiterated this, urging media to reference “official and authorized channels” for accurate information.
Political context and prior incidents
The post followed an interview where JD Vance accused Omar of “definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America.” Vance mentioned discussions with Stephen Miller, the White House immigration adviser, about legal action. The controversy unfolded after Benny Johnson, a conservative influencer, pressed Vance on whether Omar’s alleged actions justified deportation or denaturalization. Omar’s chief of staff, Connor McNutt, dismissed the claims as a “ridiculous lie and desperate attempt to distract,” linking them to Vance’s history of crafting narratives to shift focus.
Earlier in 2024, a mistranslated speech clip from Omar’s Minneapolis appearance went viral, with rightwing figures misinterpreting her remarks as a declaration of “Somalian first” allegiance. This came amid growing White House rhetoric targeting Minnesota’s Somali community and Somalia itself. Days before Vance’s interview, former president Donald Trump labeled Somalia a “crooked, disgusting country” and vowed to “get Minnesota back from Somalia.”
Consequences of the rhetoric
Omar warned in a December Guardian interview that Trump’s statements were fostering political violence with tangible effects. “We’ve had people incarcerated for threatening to kill me,” she said, adding that her fears extended to “anyone who looks like me in Minneapolis.” In January, a man attacked her with liquid from a syringe during a town hall event, shortly after Trump reiterated xenophobic remarks about her. Federal prosecutors later charged Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, with assault.
Following the false reports, Fox News issued a quiet correction, acknowledging the X account was not verified. The revised headline read: “Pro-Somaliland account backs extraditing Ilhan Omar after Vance fraud claim.” Somaliland, a self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa, separated from Somalia in 1991 but remains unrecognized by most nations, with Israel being a recent exception. Somalia still asserts sovereignty over the region.
