Federal agents executed a search warrant at the home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in the Washington, DC area on October 9, 2026. Omar's office described the search as an "unprecedented escalation" by the Trump administration against political opponents, occurring just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.
According to the Associated Press, agents from Homeland Security Investigations conducted the search early in the morning. Fox News reported that the search is linked to allegations of immigration fraud related to paperwork submitted by Omar's late father when she was a child.
Omar, who immigrated to the U.S. from Somalia as a refugee and later became a naturalized citizen, represents a district in Minnesota that includes Minneapolis. She has been a frequent target of Trump's political rhetoric, particularly concerning immigration issues.
In a social media post, Omar condemned the search, claiming it is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. "I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement," she stated.
The Department of Justice confirmed that agents executed a court-authorized search warrant but did not disclose Omar's identity or details about the investigation. Omar's office characterized the raid as an "outrageous abuse of power," asserting that she has done nothing wrong.
Several Democratic leaders, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Representative Katherine Clark, expressed their disapproval of the raid, calling it "deeply disturbing". They noted that Trump and far-right extremists have targeted Omar with personal attacks and baseless accusations.
The operation followed a rally in Tennessee where Trump made derogatory remarks about Omar and suggested that investigations were underway. Trump later stated he had "nothing to do" with the search, indicating it was a matter for the Department of Justice.
In past comments, Vice President JD Vance has accused Omar of immigration fraud without providing evidence. Omar's office has dismissed these allegations as "fabricated and defamatory".
Omar, elected to the House in 2018, has faced threats due to Trump's rhetoric and has described his focus on her as "creepy". She is part of a group of progressive lawmakers known as The Squad, who have faced repeated attacks from Trump.
In December, Trump referred to Omar and other Somali immigrants as "garbage" and suggested that she and fellow Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib should be "institutionalised". In January, a Minnesota man was sentenced to 14 months in prison for assaulting Omar during a town hall meeting.
SOURCE: Al Jazeera English