Rep. Ilhan Omar Responds After Surprise Federal Search of Her Home

Few members of Congress have drawn as much attention from President Donald Trump as U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. On Monday, October 12, that long-running feud reached a new level when federal agents searched her Washington, D.C. home.

Omar has represented Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, which includes all of Minneapolis, since 2019.

Born in Somalia, she arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1995 and became a citizen in 2000. She is the first Somali American elected to Congress and one of the first two Muslim-American women to serve in the House.

Why Omar Has Drawn the Administration's Attention

Omar's immigrant background and progressive views have drawn repeated criticism from Trump and other Republicans dating back to his first term.

Last week, the president shared a social media post targeting Minnesota's Somali community. Over the weekend, he brought up Omar again at a rally in Tennessee and suggested his administration was investigating her.

At the center of much of the criticism is a long-standing allegation that Omar married her brother in 2009 to help him immigrate. Omar has repeatedly denied the claim, calling it "disgusting lies."

No court has found that Omar committed immigration fraud, and no government agency has released evidence supporting the allegation.

Administration Officials Vowed to Investigate

Vice President JD Vance said in May that the administration was looking into the allegations. "If we think there's a crime, we're going to prosecute that crime," he told reporters at the time.

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In mid-September, White House border czar Tom Homan said Homeland Security Investigations was looking into the immigration fraud allegations. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin later said the probe related in part to whether Omar lied on her immigration forms, adding that "something's going to happen."

Omar's office pushed back on Vance's claims in March, calling them fabricated and defamatory.

What Happened at Omar's Home On October 12, 2026

Early Monday morning, before dawn, Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice in the Washington, D.C. area. In a statement, the department said the action is "part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation" but offered no further details.

Sources close to the investigation say the search is reportedly tied to Omar's immigration paperwork, which was filled out by her late father when she was a child. Officials have not publicly confirmed that detail.

Homeland Security Investigators search the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar/Getty Images

The street outside the home was blocked off as agents remained at the scene, and photos showed a Homeland Security officer walking out of the residence.

The Department of Homeland Security referred questions to the Justice Department. As of Monday afternoon, it was not known whether anything was seized or whether anyone faces charges.

Omar and Democrats Respond

Omar posted a statement shortly after the search. "I'm ok," she wrote. "Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced."

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Top House Democrats also condemned the search and questioned its timing. Omar is on the ballot in the November midterms, now three weeks away, and the Justice Department has historically avoided public investigative steps involving candidates within 60 days of an election.

The Justice Department has not released any further details about the investigation. With Election Day approaching, the case is likely to remain in the spotlight for Minnesotans, and more information is expected as it moves forward.