US federal agents searched Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s Washington home on Monday, October 12, as part of a criminal investigation. The operation came weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. Omar said she was safe but accused President Donald Trump’s administration of targeting political opponents.
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Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of US immigration enforcement, conducted the early-morning search. According to the report, Fox News linked the operation to a fraud investigation involving immigration paperwork allegedly submitted by Omar’s late father during her childhood. However, officials did not publicly confirm the investigation’s specific focus.
US media reported that the Justice Department confirmed agents had conducted a court-authorised search in the Washington area. Tom Homan, Trump’s border enforcement chief, also confirmed that investigators had executed a warrant. Authorities did not identify Omar in their public comments, and no charges against her were announced following the search.
The operation triggered criticism from Democratic leaders. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and his leadership team described the raid as deeply disturbing and questioned the use of federal law enforcement against political opponents. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also accused Trump of abusing his authority ahead of the election. Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace, meanwhile, called for Omar’s citizenship to be revoked if fraud allegations were proven.
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Omar rejected the allegations as politically motivated and said Homeland Security officials had not contacted her about an investigation in September. First elected to Congress in 2018, she represents a Minneapolis-area district with a large Somali community. She has frequently criticised Trump’s immigration policies and remains one of his prominent congressional opponents. The investigation’s outcome and any potential charges remain unclear.