John Nagel, the Republican challenger to Rep. Ilhan Omar, highlights issues of Somali gang violence in Minneapolis amid an ongoing federal immigration investigation into the congresswoman.
MINNEAPOLIS — In a bold move ahead of the midterm elections, Republican candidate John Nagel has intensified his criticism of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., as he seeks to unseat her in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. His remarks come in the wake of a federal immigration probe that recently led to a raid on Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence.
Nagel, a former state trooper with three decades of law enforcement experience, has accused Omar of failing to clarify her immigration status amidst the investigation into alleged fraud. He contends that the congresswoman prioritizes her Somali identity over her American citizenship, stating, “She views herself as Somali first, American second.”
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Nagel expressed his concerns about rising violence in Minneapolis, particularly linking it to Somali gangs. He called for the establishment of a task force to address what he describes as a “terrorist problem” and a gun-running operation in the area. “We have two problems in Minnesota. We have a terrorist problem, which you saw with the Mall of America — thank God that the FBI actually took care of that before anybody got in there — and then we have a Somali gang problem,” he said.
Nagel’s comments come after a thwarted terror attack at the Mall of America on October 7, 2026. An 18-year-old American citizen, Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, was arrested for allegedly receiving firearms intended for use in a felony and for terrorism. Mohamud, born to Somali parents, reportedly pledged allegiance to the Somali-based ISIS offshoot, al-Shabaab.
In recent weeks, Somali gangs have been implicated in two separate shooting incidents in the Minneapolis suburbs. One notable event occurred during a homecoming celebration at Eden Prairie High School, where a mass shooting injured two individuals. Abdirahman Ahmed Jama, 18, was arrested in connection with that incident, which involved gang members displaying gang signs.
Further complicating matters, court documents indicate that Jama was targeted in a subsequent shooting at a gas station in Bloomington, likely in retaliation for the earlier incident. Reports indicate that over 100 rounds were fired during this altercation.
Nagel described the Somali gangs as “vicious,” noting that while they may not yet be heavily involved in drug trafficking, they are primarily engaged in gun-related activities. “They buy and sell guns, illicit guns. They’re also the ones that know how to take and remove some parts and basically turn a pistol into a little mini machine gun,” he explained, referencing the violence seen in Bloomington and Eden Prairie.
As calls for action grow, Nagel believes local officials are finally acknowledging the connection between the recent uptick in violence and Somali gangs. He recalled a time when Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher faced backlash for suggesting that Somali gang violence was a significant issue. “He was called a ‘racist’ and immediately attacked by the Somali community,” Nagel said. “But the problem was, he was right. There was a Somali gang problem.”
Nagel expressed optimism that the narrative is shifting, stating, “We’re in a really good spot because we’ve now all come out and said, ‘yes, we have a Somali gang problem,’ and that being called a racist doesn’t have a sting to it anymore.”
Regarding Rep. Omar, who is currently under investigation for potentially falsifying information on her immigration paperwork, Nagel emphasized the importance of due process. “It’s a very serious accusation, and we definitely want due process,” he said. “She deserves the same investigation that everybody else would have, and in her own words, no one is above the law.”
While Nagel acknowledged that it is not Omar’s responsibility to prove her innocence, he believes it would be straightforward for her to clarify any misunderstandings regarding her immigration status. “It would be very simple if you are innocent to be able to come up with the paperwork, do the DNA sample. I mean, there are a lot of things that you could do that put a lot of this behind you,” he stated. “The people that voted for you have a right to know if they can trust you, and as a politician, I would be doing everything I could to make sure that I maintain that trust.”
Nagel concluded by asserting that Omar prioritizes her Somali heritage over her role as an American politician. “Her first love is Somalia. She constantly tells people that. She constantly tells the United States how we’re doing everything wrong, and she constantly tries to take the United States and weaken it,” he said. “So yes, as far as I’m concerned, Somalia comes first in her life and we are nothing more than a piggy bank for her.”
As the midterm elections approach, the race between Nagel and Omar is shaping up to be a contentious one, with issues of immigration, public safety, and community trust at the forefront of the debate, according to Fox News.