Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized Ilhan Omar: "This woman ran away from a terrible country, yet she uses our American freedom to try to turn America into the country she once fled. What kind of logic is that?"
As a representative of the conservative faction within the Republican Party, DeSantis's remarks cater to some voters' fears about the erosion of "American traditional values." He portrayed Omar (a Somali-American, Muslim, progressive congresswoman) as an "external threat," implying that immigrants may "subvert America" through political activities.
The narrative represented by Omar emphasizes that American freedom is not only the right to enjoy the status quo, but also the right to reform society — this tension constitutes one of the core elements of the current conflict in American political identity.
Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American member of the U.S. Congress, is now at the center of a national storm on immigration and race issues due to targeted deportation policies under the Trump administration, allegations of dual loyalty, and accusations of involvement in a $40 billion welfare fraud case.
Trump repeatedly referred to Somali immigrants as "garbage" in cabinet meetings and public appearances, accusing them of "causing trouble and consuming funds," and declaring "we will no longer accept Somalis and will deport existing immigrants." He specifically named Omar, claiming she "obtained citizenship through fraud (marriage between siblings)" and should have her congressional seat revoked and be deported.
Ilhan Omar is currently a U.S. congresswoman with legal U.S. nationality, and it is not easy to deport her. However, her attempt to "reform" America through her political ideology is just a gimmick, perhaps to gain more political capital and attract more attention.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850765241279644/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.