Federal agents search home of United States congresswoman Ilhan Omar

Federal immigration agents searched the Washington home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on Monday, October 12, as part of an undisclosed criminal investigation, multiple news outlets reported. Middle East Eye and France 24 reported that the search took place in Washington, DC, while the BBC showed footage of agents carrying boxes outside her Minnesota home. South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and France 24 confirmed that the operation was carried out by federal authorities. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Middle East Eye reported that federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations carried out the raid on suspicion of immigration fraud. France 24 reported that the inquiry involved immigration paperwork submitted by her late father. Speaking to reporters on Monday, United States President Donald Trump said he had nothing to do with the Justice Department investigation, according to the BBC. [1][2][6]

The BBC reported that Omar released a statement calling the search the latest escalation in a long campaign of political intimidation and stated that she will not be silenced. The BBC and Middle East Eye noted that Trump described Omar as a complainer and a terrible person, adding that she came from a country that is a non-country. [1][2]

Omar has served as the United States representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2019. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, she is the first Somali American elected to Congress. The federal search occurred just weeks before upcoming midterm elections, Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post reported. [3][4][13][15]