US authorities have conducted a pre-dawn raid on the Washington-area home of Democratic US Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump who has been the target of political insults by the Republican president.
A person familiar with the investigation said it is related to alleged immigration fraud, and part of the probe concerns the Somali-born politician's immigration paperwork, which was filled out by her late father when she was a child.
"Today in the Washington, DC area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorised search warrant secured by the Department of Justice. This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal investigation," a Justice Department spokesperson said in an email.
Homeland Security Investigations is part of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Agents of the Homeland Security Investigations were seen in front of Ilhan Omar's home on Monday morning, US time. (Reuters: Annabelle Gordon)
Ms Omar called the search an "attempt to target political enemies and weaponise federal law enforcement".
Tom Homan, the Trump administration's "border tsar", told Fox Business Network the Justice Department was leading the investigation with the Department of Homeland Security.
Mr Homan declined to discuss the specifics of an ongoing criminal investigation.
Democrats accuse Trump of abusing power
The raid was carried out a little more than three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, when Mr Trump's party will be trying to defend its narrow majorities in the US Congress.
Ms Omar, a prominent progressive who is running for re-election, represents a safe Democratic district.
She won re-election in 2024 by a margin of 50 percentage points.
Ilhan Omar has previously described Donald Trump's continuous criticism of her as "creepy". (Reuters: Nathan Howard)
Minnesota Democrats condemned the raid.
"Americans see this for what it is," Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, wrote on social media.
"President Trump is abusing his power to go after political opponents weeks before an election."
Justice Department policy bars federal prosecutors and agents from timing any action to affect the outcome of any election or benefiting a candidate or political party.
The department has historically avoided taking investigative steps against political candidates within about 60 days of an election.
'Creepy obsession'
Ms Omar has faced political insults from Mr Trump, who has cast the Somali American community as a threat to Minnesota in a burst of anti-Somali and anti-Muslim rhetoric.
She previously called Mr Trump's focus on her an "unhealthy and creepy obsession".
Last week, Mr Trump called Michigan's Democratic nominee for US Senate — Abdul El-Sayed, who is Muslim — a "RADICAL Extremist" and "Terrorist Sympathizer" while offering support for Mr El-Sayed's Republican opponent, Mike Rogers.
Civil rights advocates have criticised Mr Trump's rhetoric toward minorities and immigrants, including when he previously called Somalis "garbage."
Mr Trump in February said Ms Omar and Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who is also Muslim, should be "institutionalised" and sent back to "where they came from".
Both congresswomen had criticised Mr Trump during his State of the Union address as he touted his administration's hardline immigration crackdown and its immigration enforcement actions.
Ms Omar has said she and her family have faced death threats, which she attributes to "hateful political rhetoric", especially from Mr Trump.
Last month, a Minnesota man who squirted vinegar on Ms Omar was sentenced to one year and two months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a federal official.
Anthony James Kazmierczak admitted to attacking Ms Omar because he disagreed with her progressive political views.
Reuters