Justice Department officials confirmed that the Washington residence of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was searched as part of an ongoing federal investigation. On Monday, officials from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were seen outside Omar's home in Washington. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice (DoJ) stated, "Today in the Washington, DC area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice." The statement did not specifically name Omar but indicated that the enforcement action is part of an ongoing investigation.
Omar, who immigrated to the United States from Somalia as a child, was first elected to Congress in 2018 and is a member of a group of progressive Democratic lawmakers known as "The Squad." She represents a district that includes Minneapolis, which has a significant Somali population. Former President Donald Trump has made derogatory remarks about Somalis and has frequently criticized Omar.
House Democratic leaders have condemned the search, calling it an "abuse of power" by the Trump administration. Omar stated that she will "not be silenced" and described the search as the "latest escalation" in Trump's campaign of intimidation. She has previously mentioned facing death threats, which she attributes to political rhetoric from Trump.
No charges against Omar were announced in connection with the search, but reports indicate that the operation is linked to a criminal fraud investigation involving immigration paperwork submitted on her behalf by her late father when she was a child. The search occurs three weeks before the midterm elections, where Trump's Republicans are aiming to maintain their slim majorities in Congress.