Federal agents searched the Washington home of US Representative Ilhan Omar on Monday morning. The action has sparked fresh debate over a federal probe and claims about her immigration history.
Three people familiar with the matter said the search took place at Omar’s home in Washington, DC. Homeland Security Investigations carried out the operation. The agency works under the Department of Homeland Security and investigates federal crimes.
The Justice Department confirmed that it had obtained a court-approved warrant for a law enforcement action. However, officials did not name Omar or explain which case led to the search.
The department said the action was part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. It did not share details about the evidence or explain what agents were looking for at the home.
President Donald Trump was asked about the search at the White House. He said he understood that officials were looking closely at Omar. He also called her a terrible person but said the Justice Department was handling the matter.
Trump denied having any role in the operation. His remarks came amid a long-running political dispute between Omar and Republican leaders.
Last month, US officials said federal authorities were examining claims that Omar may have entered the country by using false immigration papers. Omar and her team have repeatedly denied any immigration fraud.
Omar responded to the search in a post on social media. She accused the government of targeting political rivals and using federal law enforcement to pressure them.
She also said Trump had targeted her with what she called false claims for years. She described the search as another step in what she sees as a campaign of political intimidation.
Omar represents Minnesota in the US House of Representatives. She is the first Somali American lawmaker in the country. She moved to the United States in 1995, when she was 12 years old.
The timing of the search has drawn added attention because Omar is seeking another term in Congress. She won the Democratic primary in her district and is due to face voters in November.
The Justice Department has a policy often called the 60-day blackout period. During this time, officials usually avoid public actions in politically sensitive cases that could affect an election or appear to serve a political goal.
Such actions can include search warrants and criminal charges involving political figures. The policy aims to protect public trust in federal law enforcement and reduce concerns about efforts to influence voters.
The blackout period is not required by law. Still, it has been a source of debate in past election years.
In 2016, then-FBI Director James B. Comey faced criticism over statements about an inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. Clinton was the Democratic candidate for president at the time.
Trump also raised the issue in 2024. He accused special counsel Jack Smith of breaking the blackout rule after Smith filed evidence in court about Trump’s alleged efforts to block the 2020 election result.
In that case, Smith and his team were responding to a deadline set by a judge. They were not choosing to announce a new public law enforcement action.
A government official said the Justice Department followed its review process before agents searched Omar’s home. The official said the department consulted its Public Integrity Section because the timing of the action could raise questions about political influence.
Attorney General Todd Blanche approved the warrant, the official said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
The Public Integrity Section is meant to review cases that may raise concerns about political pressure or the fair use of federal power. However, the Trump administration has reduced the office’s role and has often left it out of politically sensitive investigations.
The Justice Department has not said what evidence led to the search. It has also not announced any charges against Omar linked to Monday’s action.
A search does not prove that a person has committed a crime. The claims about Omar’s immigration history remain disputed, and she has denied wrongdoing.
The case has raised wider questions about how federal authorities handle investigations involving elected officials before an election. It has also drawn attention to the rules meant to protect law enforcement from political pressure.
For now, the federal probe remains active. Officials have yet to explain the full purpose of the search, disclose what agents may have taken from the home or say whether further legal action is planned.
