Homeland Security Investigations executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Washington-area home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Monday. The Justice Department confirmed the action was part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. Two sources close to the matter say the probe stems from a criminal fraud investigation into Omar's immigration paperwork, which was completed by her late father when she was a child.
Democratic lawmakers quickly condemned the raid as a political intimidation tactic by President Donald Trump. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., stated in a written release that the administration's actions raise serious questions about the weaponization of the federal government against Trump's adversaries. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a member of the progressive group known as the Squad, called the development a personal attack. She noted that Trump has repeatedly targeted Omar and the broader Somali American population, describing the raid as a method used by authoritarians to bully their way back into power.
Other Democrats emphasized Omar's legal status in the United States. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., wrote that Omar has been a U.S. citizen for 26 years and was legally admitted as a refugee as a child. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., echoed these points, asserting that Omar came to America legally and that Trump is using government resources to silence opposition. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., both posted on social media that the administration's actions constitute an abuse of power and an unprecedented interference in the political process.
Republican lawmakers offered contrasting perspectives, focusing on legal accountability and previous precedents. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., pointed out that the public has not yet reviewed the details of Omar's naturalization paperwork. Mace stated that she had previously attempted to subpoena Omar's and her husband's immigration records through congressional oversight but was blocked from doing so. She argued that if fraud is proven, Omar should be denaturalized and deported. Mace also noted that Democrats celebrated the 2022 raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, suggesting they set a precedent for such actions.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., used the incident to argue for stricter scrutiny of lawmakers' citizenship credentials before they take office. She said that if the allegations are true, they must be dealt with legally, and she cited her push for disclosure requirements regarding dual citizenship. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., agreed, stating that anyone who lies on immigration paperwork should face denaturalization without special treatment. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., affirmed that no one is above the law and said he looked forward to learning more details about the investigation.
The raid occurred less than a month before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Absentee voting in Minnesota began Sept. 18, with early in-person voting scheduled to begin Friday. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., described the timing as a transparent attempt to interfere in the state's election. As of Tuesday morning, neither U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., nor Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had issued statements on the raid. The office of Rep. Ilhan Omar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.