WASHINGTON – Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's home on Oct. 12, according to an official familiar with the matter.
Homeland Security Investigations agents conducted the early-morning raid at the Democratic congresswoman's Washington, DC, residence. The purpose for the search wasn't immediately clear, but top Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, have long accused the Minnesota lawmaker, who was born in Somalia and immigrated to the United States as a child refugee, of immigration fraud, which she denies.
The raid is a significant escalation of President Donald Trump's efforts to target his political opponents using the federal law enforcement apparatus. It also
dramatically intensifies his yearslong feud with Omar, a progressive Muslim whose religion and ethnicity Trump has frequently attacked.
The Department of Homeland Security referred USA TODAY to the Justice Department for comment. In a statement, the DOJ confirmed Homeland Security Investigations had "executed a judicially authorized search warrant" at a Washington-area home as "part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation."
Who is Ilhan Omar?
Omar was elected in President Trump’s first term during a blue wave in 2018. She was an original member of the progressive group dubbed the "Squad," which also included Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib. She became the first Somali American to represent Minnesota in Congress.
She also immediately drew Trump's ire. In July 2019, the summer after she won her House seat, a North Carolina campaign rally crowd chanted "send her back" after Trump repeatedly criticizedthe congresswoman. Earlier this year, in January, Trump without evidence accused Omar of staging a town hall attack during which an attendee sprayed her with apple cider vinegar.
Omar has drawn controversy on her own, too. In 2019, she sparked bipartisan backlash for now-deleted tweets about Israel that sparked claims of antisemitism.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rep. Ilhan Omar's home searched by Homeland Security agents
