Ilhan Omar speaks after home raid
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's DC home on Oct 12, seizing 17 items in an immigration probe.
Omar calls the raid intimidation and plans to move out over safety fears.
Background
Ilhan Omar is a U.S. Representative from Minnesota, born in Somalia and a naturalized citizen, a progressive "Squad" congresswoman and a frequent critic and target of President Donald Trump. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the chief investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, searched her Washington, D.C., home as part of a criminal investigation into her immigration status. The search came weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, which will decide control of the House and Senate; Omar is running for re-election in a deep blue Minneapolis district and is expected to retain her seat. Omar has not been charged with a crime.
How it unfolded
- Oct 12, 2026Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Omar's Washington, D.C., home around 6am, searching four to five hours and seizing 17 items including phones, notebooks, a Somali-language children's book and a vintage camera.
- Oct 13, 2026Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Washington, D.C., announced her office was investigating Omar's financial disclosures.
- Oct 20, 2026Trump called the congresswoman "sick" and "dishonest" and slammed her birthplace as a "real s—house."
- Oct 21, 2026In her first interview since the raid, Omar told MS NOW's Chris Hayes the raid was "designed" to intimidate her and said she declined to sign a document waiving her constitutional protections as a member of Congress.
- Oct 22, 2026Omar said she will move out of her Washington, D.C., home, citing safety concerns after her address became public and ongoing death threats.
- Oct 23, 2026Reports published that Omar plans to move out of her DC home after the federal raid.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- A Justice Department spokesperson described the search as a "judicially authorised search warrant" part of an "ongoing federal criminal investigation."
- Omar
- Omar said the raid was "designed" to intimidate her, that she is "confident in the fact that I didn't do anything wrong," and accused the administration of political intimidation.
- Vance
- Vice President JD Vance said "we really want to let the law, the facts drive this" and that the administration doesn't want to be like the Biden administration in letting the law go after political opponents.
- Democrats
- Congressional Democrats sharply condemned the search and questioned its timing, noting the Justice Department has historically avoided overt investigative actions involving candidates just before an election.
Still unverified
Sources told Fox News Digital that authorities are scrutinizing whether Omar or her father committed fraud when filling out paperwork for her to become a U.S. citizen. NBC News, citing one person familiar with the matter, reported potential future charges may include conspiracy and making false statements in her immigration paperwork. Reports have suggested investigators are examining whether Omar and her late father intentionally provided false information about her birth date. A Wall Street Journal report said the search was part of an effort to strip her citizenship and deport her. Multiple sources told NewsNation potential DNA evidence is critical to the investigation. Omar denies wrongdoing and has called the marriage allegations "disgusting lies."