Video obtained by Fox News Digital shows federal agents outside Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence during an early-morning search Monday.
“Today in the Washington, D.C., area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice,” a Department of Justice spokesperson told Newsweek. “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
In the video, an unidentified person asks an HSI officer whether the operation was “an illegal immigration raid.” The officer replied, “No, it’s not,” but described the scene only as “police activity.” Asked directly whether agents were raiding Omar’s home, the officer said: “I’m not going to discuss anything with you.”
Newsweek reached out to Omar’s office and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Why Is Ilhan Omar’s Home Being Searched?
The precise reason for the search remains unclear. The DOJ confirmed that the warrant was connected to an ongoing federal criminal investigation but did not identify its target or specify what potential offenses authorities are investigating.
However, the search follows months of scrutiny from federal agencies concerning the Minnesota Democrat's immigration history.
Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said authorities were examining Omar’s immigration history, including the long-running allegation that she married her brother to help him enter the U.S. Omar has repeatedly denied the allegation, which has not been substantiated.
"There may be more to this, the whole family migration and possibly some illegal activity for them to come to the United States to begin with,” Mullin said.
Earlier in the year, Vice President JD Vance said that the DOJ was investigating Omar, again over alleged immigration fraud. This came as the issue of fraud within Minnesota had become a national topic, and after Omar was accused of involvement in the “Feeding Our Future” scheme, in which a nonprofit secured $250 million in federal reimbursements by lying about its activities during the pandemic.
“Any claim that I had knowledge of this scheme is flat-out false," Omar said in a statement shared with Newsweek.
“As I stated from the beginning, stealing millions of dollars under the guise of feeding hungry children to bankroll lavish lifestyles and extravagant expenses is reprehensible," she added.
Who Is Ilhan Omar?
Omar, 44, has represented Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District since 2019, having secured 78 percent of the vote over Republican candidate Jennifer Zielinski in 2018. Prior to this, Omar served in Minnesota’s House of Representatives.
She currently serves on several House committees including the House Budget Committee and the committee on Education and the Workforce.
Since entering Congress, Omar has cultivated a reputation as one of the most outspoken progressives in her party, and is a member of “The Squad”—an unofficial group of four female Democratic lawmakers elected in 2018, which includes Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
Omar was born in Somalia but fled the country when she was 8 years old, later becoming the first ever Somali American elected to Congress. However, her heritage and journey to national prominence have made her a target of Republican attacks during her political career, including from President Donald Trump.
Trump was criticized during his first term for saying that Democratic congresswomen should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came”—seen as a direct attack on Omar.
In November 2025, Trump posted to Truth Social that Omar should “go back!” in response to a video of her speaking at an event in Somalia.