Officials from a federal law enforcement agency have searched the home of US Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Omar’s office described the incident as an “unprecedented move” by the Trump administration to target a political opponent.
The search took place on Monday at Omar’s residence in the Washington, D.C. area. The US midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, with Trump’s Republican Party fighting to retain control of Congress. This search occurred just weeks before the election.
Citing two individuals familiar with the matter, the Associated Press (AP) reported that officials from Homeland Security Investigations conducted the search at Omar’s home early in the morning.
Meanwhile, Fox News, citing an unnamed source, reported that the search is linked to allegations of fraud regarding immigration documents submitted when Omar was a child—before her father passed away.
Somalia-born Ilhan Omar arrived in the US as a child refugee and later became a citizen. She represents the congressional district that includes the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has long been a target of political attacks by Trump regarding various issues, including immigration.
On Monday, Omar condemned the search in a post on social media (X). She alleged that the Trump administration is using federal law enforcement agencies to target political opponents.
Omar wrote, “I am fine. Let us not forget, this is an attempt to target political enemies and use federal law enforcement for political gain.”
She added, “For the past 10 years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smears.” “This is the latest move in that campaign of political intimidation.”
Omar stated, “I will not remain silent.”
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that officials executed a court-authorized search warrant. However, the department did not mention Omar by name, nor did it provide details regarding the investigation.
Omar’s office described the raid as a “brazen abuse of power.” The office stated, “The Congresswoman has committed no wrongdoing. No president should have the opportunity to use the power of the federal government to intimidate political opponents.”
Several other Democratic leaders condemned the search. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement describing the incident as “deeply concerning.”
In the statement, they said, “For years, Donald Trump and the far-right have relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Omar with vile personal attacks and baseless accusations.”
They added, “Less than 30 days before the midterm elections, the very machinery behind Trump’s indiscriminate mass deportation campaign has raided the home where she and her family live—even though she is a duly elected member of Congress.”
Days before the search, Trump had launched a derogatory attack on Omar at a campaign rally in Tennessee. He described Somalia as a country “rife with crime and filth.” He also hinted that Vice President J.D. Vance and members of his administration were investigating Omar.
Hours after the search, Trump told reporters that he had no connection to the incident, stating that the matter was “up to the Department of Justice.”
Previously, Vance had accused Omar of immigration fraud without providing evidence. In an interview with conservative podcast host Benny Johnson, Vance stated that he and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller had discussed how to investigate Omar.
During the interview, Vance mentioned discussing the possibility of building a case against her—exploring how to take action, how to conduct an investigation, and how to actually execute such a move.
Omar’s office had previously dismissed Vance’s allegations as “fabricated and defamatory.”
Ilhan Omar was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018. She has reported receiving death threats directed at herself and her family due to Trump’s rhetoric. In Omar’s words, Trump’s excessive focus on her is “unsettling.”
Omar is a member of “The Squad,” a group of progressive lawmakers who have frequently been targets of Trump’s attacks since his first term.
Last December, Trump referred to Omar and other Somali immigrants as “garbage.” In February of this year, after she criticized his State of the Union address, he suggested that Omar and Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib should be “institutionalized” and “sent back to where they came from.”
Ilhan Omar is the first African refugee elected to Congress. She and Rashida Tlaib are the first two Muslim-American women elected to the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, a Minnesota man was sentenced to 14 months in prison last month. He received this sentence for splashing vinegar on Omar during a town hall meeting last January. At the time, the Trump administration had intensified its anti-immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. During the meeting, Omar had called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
