Federal investigators searched the Washington home of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar on Monday, escalating a criminal inquiry into the Minnesota congresswoman’s immigration history.
Omar responded on social media with a defiant declaration after reports emerged that federal agents had entered her residence.
“I will not be silenced,” she wrote, accusing the administration of trying to intimidate its political opponents.
“I’m ok,” Omar said before describing the search as an attack on her political independence.
“Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” she wrote.
“For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns,” Omar continued in her statement.
“This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” she added.
Those accusations represent Omar’s position, not an established finding about investigators’ motives or the president’s involvement.
Homeland Security Investigations agents executed the search warrant at Omar’s residence in the Washington, D.C., area Monday morning.
The Justice Department confirmed that agents conducted a judicially authorized search connected to an ongoing federal criminal investigation.
BREAKING: DHS agents are loading box after box of evidence from Ilhan Omar’s home into their vehicles. https://t.co/qrFuiOQGHk
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 12, 2026
Officials did not publicly release the underlying affidavit, identify seized documents, or announce criminal charges against the congresswoman.
Photographs showed federal personnel outside the property and carrying boxes labeled as seized evidence from the residence.
Fox News Digital reported that investigators were examining immigration paperwork completed by Omar’s late father during her childhood.
CBS News separately reported that investigators were reviewing potential false statements and immigration fraud involving those records.
The existence of an investigation does not establish that Omar knowingly submitted false information or committed any offense.
Omar was born in Somalia, came to the United States as a refugee, and became an American citizen.
She was first elected to Congress in 2018 and represents Minnesota’s heavily Democratic Fifth Congressional District.
The progressive lawmaker has repeatedly clashed with Trump over immigration enforcement, national security, and American foreign policy.
Her office issued a statement condemning the operation and insisting the congresswoman had done nothing wrong.
“This raid by Trump’s DHS is an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation,” her office declared.
The full statement characterized the search as federal law enforcement targeting political enemies, an accusation officials have not substantiated.
Omar’s office also argued that the president’s previous criticism had repeatedly placed the congresswoman under political pressure.
Trump denied directing the operation when reporters asked about the search during his appearance Monday.
“I think she’s a terrible person, but that’s really up to the DOJ,” Trump told reporters.
He also said he had “nothing to do” with the search, distancing himself from operational decisions.
Democratic leaders condemned both the timing and the extraordinary spectacle of agents searching a sitting lawmaker’s home.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined other senior Democrats in questioning the administration’s handling of the investigation.
They warned that the search occurred only weeks before voters would decide control of Congress.
The Justice Department traditionally exercises caution around overt investigative actions involving political candidates shortly before elections.
That practice aims to reduce the risk that federal enforcement activity could improperly influence voters.
However, the existence of that longstanding practice does not automatically establish that this search violated department policy.
A judicial warrant generally requires a judge to find probable cause, although the public has not seen supporting evidence.
Homeland Security Investigations handles criminal matters, including immigration document fraud, identity offenses, and other federal violations.
The agency’s investigative role differs from immigration enforcement operations focused primarily on detention and deportation.
White House border adviser Tom Homan previously acknowledged that authorities were examining allegations involving Omar’s immigration history.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also referenced an ongoing investigation before Monday’s search took place.
Vice President JD Vance has publicly raised questions about Omar’s immigration records, although allegations remain unproven.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
