Raid on Ilhan Omar’s home condemned as political targeting
Homeland Security agents search Somali-born congresswoman's Washington home on unconfirmed pretext; Omar and Democrats call it weaponisation of federal law enforcement
WASHINGTON (MNTV) — Federal agents searched the Washington home of Representative Ilhan Omar early on Monday in a criminal investigation that the congresswoman and fellow Democrats denounced as the political targeting of one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent Muslim critics.
The search was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
The Justice Department confirmed that agents had executed a court-authorised search warrant but would not name Omar or describe the investigation.
The alleged basis — immigration paperwork that Omar’s late father is said to have submitted when she was a child — was reported by Fox News, citing unidentified sources, and has not been confirmed by the department.
No charges have been filed against anyone.
Omar, a Somali-born Democrat who represents Minneapolis and was one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, called the raid an abuse of power. “Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” she wrote on X. “For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. I will not be silenced.” Her office said the search was an “outrageous abuse of power” and that she “has done nothing wrong.”
Democratic leaders condemned the operation. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar called it “deeply disturbing,” saying the administration’s “violent mass deportation machine” had descended on the home of “a duly elected Member of Congress.”
Trump, asked about the search hours later, said he had “nothing to do” with it and that the matter was “really up to the DOJ.”
Critics noted that the search followed an escalating campaign of attacks on Omar and Somali Americans.
Days earlier, at a Tennessee rally, Trump described Omar as coming from a country of “crime and squalor”; he called her and other Somali immigrants “garbage” in December, said this month that Minnesota’s Somali community was “taking over” the state, and has previously said she should be “institutionalised” and sent back.
Vice-President JD Vance has accused Omar of immigration fraud without presenting evidence and was recorded discussing with White House aide Stephen Miller how to investigate her — allegations her office has called “fabricated and defamatory.”
Civil-rights advocates said the pre-dawn search of a sitting lawmaker, on a pretext officials would not state on the record and amid a torrent of presidential attacks on her faith and heritage, deepened fears that federal law enforcement was being used against a political opponent.
Whether the investigation produces any charge will be determined in court.
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