In a seismic political upheaval that has gripped Washington, D.C., White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dropped a bombshell this week, unveiling evidence before Congress that left Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Ilhan Omar visibly stunned. The March 28, 2025, hearing, intended as a routine oversight session on immigration policy, turned into a high-stakes showdown when Leavitt presented what she called “irrefutable proof” of misconduct tied to the two progressive lawmakers. By March 30, 2025, the fallout had escalated to an extraordinary claim: Representative Ilhan Omar, the Somali-born Democrat from Minnesota, had been “officially deported.” The nation is now reeling from the implications.
The Hearing: A Dramatic Unveiling
The stage was set in the Rayburn House Office Building, where the House Judiciary Committee convened to grill Leavitt on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns. AOC and Omar, both vocal critics of Trump’s policies, were present as members of the minority party. AOC had spent weeks on her “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Senator Bernie Sanders, railing against what she called “fascist” border measures, while Omar had led a March 12 push with 13 colleagues to free a detained Columbia University student, Mahmoud Khalil, from ICE custody.
Leavitt, the 27-year-old MAGA firebrand, took the witness stand with a steely demeanor. Halfway through a tense exchange with AOC over asylum caps, she pivoted. “If the committee wants transparency, let’s have it,” she said, producing a stack of documents and a USB drive. What followed was a bombshell: Leavitt alleged that AOC and Omar had knowingly funneled campaign funds to organizations linked to immigration fraud, including groups that allegedly aided undocumented individuals in evading federal law.
The evidence, per Leavitt, included financial records, emails, and intercepted calls—some purportedly tying AOC’s team to a New York-based nonprofit under FBI scrutiny since February 2025, and others suggesting Omar’s office had coordinated with advocates to obstruct ICE operations in Minnesota. “These aren’t just policy disagreements,” Leavitt charged. “This is aiding and abetting illegal activity under the guise of activism.” The room fell silent as AOC and Omar sat, wide-eyed, their usual fiery retorts nowhere to be found.
The Allegations: Breaking Down the Claims
Leavitt’s presentation leaned on two key accusations. First, she claimed AOC’s 2024 campaign had redirected over $500,000 to “Justice for All,” a shadowy group accused of falsifying asylum claims. A March 15, 2025, New York Times report had flagged the nonprofit for scrutiny, though no direct link to AOC was confirmed then. Leavitt’s documents, however, included alleged donor lists and a memo with AOC’s initials—evidence she said was obtained via a whistleblower.
Second, Leavitt targeted Omar, asserting that her office had colluded with pro-immigrant activists to shield individuals from deportation, including some with criminal records. A standout claim: Omar’s push for Mahmoud Khalil’s release masked a broader effort to undermine Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy. Leavitt cited a recorded call—played for the committee—where an Omar staffer allegedly instructed an activist to “delay ICE at all costs.” The most explosive twist? Leavitt hinted that Omar’s own immigration history might be suspect, reviving long-debunked right-wing theories about her 1995 entry from Somalia.
AOC’s team later called the evidence “fabricated,” while Omar’s office decried it as “a racist smear.” But in the moment, both lawmakers were uncharacteristically mute, scribbling notes as Leavitt concluded: “The American people deserve leaders who uphold the law, not break it.”
The Deportation Twist: Fact or Fiction?
The hearing’s aftermath took an even wilder turn. By March 29, conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax ran headlines claiming “Omar Officially Deported,” citing anonymous Capitol sources. Social media posts on X amplified the rumor, with users sharing doctored images of Omar boarding a plane. Leavitt, in a March 30 White House briefing, neither confirmed nor denied the claim, saying only, “Justice moves swiftly under this administration.”
Could it be true? As a U.S. citizen and elected official, Omar’s deportation seems legally implausible. The Constitution grants congressional immunity for official acts, and naturalized citizens like Omar—sworn in as a U.S. citizen in 2000—face stringent revocation hurdles. Yet, Trump’s team has pushed aggressive immigration enforcement since January 2025, including a March 1 executive order expanding denaturalization grounds for “national security threats.” Could Omar’s alleged actions qualify? Legal experts doubt it. “This would be unprecedented,” said Georgetown’s Linda Hargrove. “It’s more likely political theater than reality.”
Still, the rumor gained traction. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who censured Omar in 2024 over a mistranslated speech, tweeted, “Good riddance!” fueling speculation. Democrats, meanwhile, accused the GOP of a coordinated attack. “This is 21st-century McCarthyism,” AOC told CNN on March 30, vowing to sue if the evidence proved falsified.
Political Fallout: A Party in Disarray
The episode has plunged Democrats into chaos. AOC and Omar, linchpins of the progressive “Squad,” were already navigating a party fractured post-2024 losses. A March 23, 2025, Newsweek poll pegged AOC as a 2028 presidential contender, but this scandal could tarnish her image. Omar, too, faces reelection pressure in Minnesota, where GOP ads now blast her as “lawless.”
For Republicans, it’s a coup. Leavitt, already a star after her NBC debate win over AOC, has solidified her role as Trump’s attack dog. The administration, buoyed by a 52% approval rating in a March 27 Gallup poll, sees this as a chance to kneecap Democratic momentum. Trump himself weighed in on Truth Social: “Crooked AOC and Omar caught red-handed. Time to clean house!”
Progressives rallied online with #StandWithAOC and #JusticeForIlhan, but the party’s moderates—like Senator Elissa Slotkin—stayed silent, hinting at internal rifts. “This could split the base,” warned analyst Ana Navarro on CNN. “If the evidence holds, it’s a disaster.”
What’s Next?
As of March 30, 2025, the story is unfolding. The House Ethics Committee has launched a probe into Leavitt’s claims, with a report due by mid-April. The FBI, tight-lipped, is reportedly reviewing the documents. AOC has hired legal counsel, while Omar’s team insists her citizenship is ironclad—though she’s canceled public appearances, fueling speculation.
The deportation claim remains unconfirmed, likely a hyperbolic flourish by Trump allies. Yet, its mere suggestion underscores the stakes. If substantiated, Leavitt’s evidence could trigger criminal charges, though experts say campaign finance violations rarely lead to jail time, let alone deportation. More likely, it’s a political weapon aimed at 2026 midterms.
For now, AOC and Omar are regrouping. AOC hinted at a counterattack in a March 30 X post: “They’ll regret this.” Omar, in a brief statement, called it “a distraction from Trump’s failures.” But with Leavitt ascendant and Congress abuzz, the progressive duo’s silence before the committee may prove a defining moment—one that could reshape their legacies and the Democratic Party itself.
