US immigration agents conducted a search of Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s home in the Washington, DC, area on Monday morning, the Department of Justice confirmed as part of a federal criminal probe.
A justice department spokesperson told the BBC that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers “executed a judicially authorized search warrant” at the property. While confirming the search was tied to an “ongoing federal criminal investigation,” officials declined to provide specific details regarding the nature of the inquiry.
The timing of the raid has drawn immediate attention, occurring just 22 days before the November midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. The House has a longstanding policy against enforcement actions that could be perceived as influencing an election or disadvantaging a candidate.
Omar, a Democrat who is seeking reelection, has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and his administration. She was born in Somalia and arrived in the United States at age eight after fleeing the civil war. First elected to Congress in 2018, she became the first Somali-American woman to serve in the US House of Representatives.
This development follows months of scrutiny from Republican lawmakers regarding Omar’s immigration status. Earlier this year, South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace attempted to subpoena Omar’s records but was unsuccessful. More recently, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin alleged on a conservative podcast that Omar had previously entered a sham marriage with her brother to facilitate his entry into the US. Mullin noted that Omar’s brother now resides in London.
Additionally, White House border tsar Tom Homan told Fox News that Omar is being investigated for unspecified immigration violations. Omar denied these claims in a fundraising email last month, dismissing the investigations as “complete shams” and stating she had no concerns about the proceedings.
The search comes amid heightened tensions between Omar and the Trump administration. The president has frequently targeted Omar, suggesting she should return to Somalia and characterizing her as undeserving of citizenship, which is required to serve in the House. Omar has described Trump’s attacks as reflecting an “unhealthy and creepy obsession.” Last week, Trump posted on social media claiming that Minnesota is being “taken over by Somali immigrants” and urged residents to “fight back.”
Omar won her 2024 reelection bid with 74% of the vote. As the BBC contacted her office for comment, it remained unclear whether Omar was present at the home during the search, as Congress is currently out of session.
If she’s innocent, the evidence should clear up quickly. Let’s see what comes out of this investigation.
Does anyone actually know what the specific immigration violation is, or are we just guessing?
I hope this isn’t another politically motivated witch hunt. We need due process, not election-year theatrics.
Twenty-two days before the midterms? The timing feels incredibly calculated to me, regardless of what officials claim.