Federal Agents Search Ilhan Omar’s Home in Immigration Investigation

US federal agents searched Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s Washington home on October 12 as part of a criminal investigation, less than a month before the November 3 midterm elections. Officials have not disclosed the full scope of the probe.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, carried out the predawn search under a judicially authorized warrant obtained through the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The DOJ confirmed the search but did not identify the specific allegations or explain what evidence agents sought.

People familiar with the investigation told news organizations that it concerns alleged immigration fraud, including paperwork completed by Omar’s late father when she was a child. No charges related to the search had been announced in the reports available by October 13.

Omar Says Search Is Linked to Political Intimidation

Omar, 44, said the search was part of what she described as President Donald Trump’s campaign of political intimidation. She said she would not be silenced. Her office stated that she had done nothing wrong.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Omar, who was born in Somalia and came to the United States as a child refugee in 1995. She became a US citizen in 2000 and represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis.

Trump discussed Omar during a campaign appearance in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12. She is seeking a fifth two-year term in the House of Representatives and won reelection in 2024 by a margin of about 50 percentage points. The midterm elections will take place on November 3, 2026.

Search Comes Before November Midterm Elections

The timing has drawn attention because the Justice Department has a longstanding policy against taking investigative steps intended to influence an election or benefit a candidate or political party. Federal prosecutors and agents are expected to avoid actions that could affect electoral outcomes, although the policy does not automatically prohibit every investigation close to an election.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in September that an investigation involving Omar’s immigration history was ongoing. He did not provide details at the time.

As of October 13, authorities had not publicly disclosed further information about the evidence collected during the search or announced any charges against Omar. The investigation remains ongoing.