If Ilhan Omar Faces Deportation, What About Melania Trump?

The First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, should face the same scrutiny under immigration law as anyone else. If Rep. Ilhan Omar's citizenship is being investigated, why shouldn't questions about Melania Trump's immigration history receive equal attention?

In 2016, the Associated Press reported that Melania Trump was paid for 10 modeling assignments totaling approximately $20,056 before she received legal authorization to work in the United States.

In 2018, the Washington Post reported that immigration experts questioned whether her qualifications met the requirements for the EB-1 visa, commonly called the “Einstein visa,” which is intended for individuals with extraordinary ability in their fields.

The EB-1 visa is not an ordinary work visa. Applicants must demonstrate extraordinary ability and sustained national or international acclaim, supported by substantial evidence. They must either have received a major internationally recognized award or satisfy at least three of 10 specific criteria. 

In 2018, former Congressman Bruce Morrison, who helped write the law establishing the program, said Melania Trump's résumé appeared “inconsistent” with its requirements. Given the publicly reported details of her modeling career, serious questions remain about how she qualified. Her attorney, however, maintained that she was fully eligible.

Now, Rep. Ilhan Omar faces a federal investigation into allegations involving her immigration and citizenship records. Omar denies wrongdoing. An investigation is not proof of guilt.

Here is the question: Should immigration laws be enforced consistently, regardless of a person's political affiliation, wealth, or proximity to the president?

If officials believe Omar's case warrants scrutiny, shouldn't they also be willing to examine any credible evidence concerning Melania Trump's immigration history?

I am not claiming that the two cases are legally identical. I am demanding one standard of accountability.

If the law applies to Ilhan Omar, it must apply equally to everyone else.

I stand with Ilhan Omar in demanding equal treatment under the law.

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes about U.S. foreign policy, Middle Eastern affairs, and justice.