US immigration agents searched the home of Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar on Monday morning as part of a “criminal investigation”.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents “executed a judicially authorized search warrant” for the home in the Washington, DC, area, a US justice department spokesperson told the BBC.
The search “is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” the spokesperson said, but no further details were given. US Congress is currently out of session and it is unclear if Omar was at the home.
Omar, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, described the search as “an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.”
“For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns,” Omar said in an online statement. “This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced.”
Her communications director Jacklyn Rogers called the raid “an outrageous abuse of power” by the Trump administration. “The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong.”
The nature of the criminal investigation remains unclear. A BBC crew saw several agents at the home, some carrying boxes to a van. News of the search was first reported by Fox News, which has said the investigation is about immigration paperwork filed by her late father when Omar was a child.
The timing of Monday’s raid — 22 days to the November midterm elections which will decide the balance of power in Congress for the next two years — has raised concerns from Democrats who have rallied behind Omar.
The justice department has a longstanding policy of refraining from most enforcement action that is “likely to raise an issue or the perception” it was being brought for the purpose of affecting any election or disadvantage a candidate.
The US House Democratic Party leadership said in a statment that Omar was targeted with “vile personal attacks and baseless accusations.”
“Now, less than 30 days until the midterm election, his violent mass deportation machine has descended upon the home of a duly elected Member of Congress and her family.”
Omar’s immigration records have been scrutinised in the past by Republicans. Earlier this year, fellow Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina unsuccessfully filed a subpoena of her records.
Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a conservative podcaster “something is going to happen”, making allegations of marital fraud against Omar. Separately, the White House border tsar Tom Homan told Fox News Omar was being investigated for unspecified immigration violations.
Omar, a Democrat, denied these allegations last month. “I will say it again so it’s as clear as possible: I’m not at all worried about these investigations, because they are complete shams,” she said in a campaign fundraising email, an archive of which has been seen by the BBC.
She has been targeted by Trump with the president previously suggesting that she “should go back” to Somalia and that she should be deported. US citizenship is required to serve as a US House Representative.
Omar has responded to Trump’s insults and attacks describing them as an “unhealthy and creepy obsession.”
The president also spoke unfavourably about the Somali American community. Last week, he wrote on social media that Minnesota “is being taken over by Somali immigrants” and said “the people of Minnesota must fight back.”
Republicans celebrated the search. “Nobody is above the law,” said Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer. “We look forward to learning more details about this raid and investigation. ACCOUNTABILITY IS COMING!”
Getty ImagesOmar is the first Somali-American elected to the US House of Representatives and she represents a district in the Minneapolis area. She and Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib were the first Muslim women elected to Congress.
She won the 2024 election with 74% of the vote.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also criticised the search on Monday. “Americans see this for what it is – President Trump is abusing his power to go after political opponents weeks before an election.”
Minnesota senator Tina Smith said called it “a transparent attempt to interfere in our elections.”
Additional reporting by Ione Wells.
