Federal agents conducted a search of Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on Monday as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, officials confirmed. The Department of Justice (DoJ) stated that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a judicially authorized search warrant in the District of Columbia area, describing the operation as part of a continuing inquiry. Specific details about the nature of the probe have not been publicly disclosed.
According to multiple reports citing unnamed sources, the investigation revolves around allegations of immigration fraud linked to paperwork filed by Omar’s late father during her childhood. The congresswoman, who was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1982 and became a U.S. citizen in 2000, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. She has characterized the accusations as politically motivated and baseless.
Omar, a Democrat representing Minnesota’s 5th congressional district, is a prominent member of a progressive group of lawmakers often referred to as the “Squad.” Since her election in 2018, she has been an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump and his administration. Trump and some of his allies have frequently targeted Omar with claims related to her immigration history, including unfounded assertions that she engaged in marriage fraud—allegations she has consistently refuted. Trump has also made disparaging remarks about Somali immigrants, particularly in Minnesota, statements that Omar and others have condemned as racist.
The timing of the search, occurring just over three weeks before the November midterm elections in which Omar is seeking re-election, has drawn significant attention. The Justice Department traditionally enters a “blackout” period 60 days before elections to avoid actions that might influence political campaigns. However, there is no formal rule preventing investigations or enforcement actions during this time. Trump and his allies have indicated for months that investigations into Omar were underway; in recent months, Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin publicly referenced ongoing inquiries.
Omar’s office condemned the raid as a politicized attempt to target her and other critics of the former president, accusing his administration of weaponizing federal law enforcement. In a statement, her representatives called the search an “outrageous abuse of power” and an escalation of efforts to intimidate political opponents. Omar has also cited the broader context of hostile rhetoric directed at her and the Somali-American community during Trump’s tenure, including instances of death threats and public slurs.
Civil rights advocates and some political analysts have criticized the administration’s focus on Omar as part of a broader pattern of attacks on minority and immigrant communities. The investigation and search have sparked debate over the appropriate use of federal investigative powers in politically sensitive cases.
Neither the Department of Justice nor Homeland Security has provided further details, and Omar’s congressional office did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment following the search.