U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar announced Wednesday that she plans to move out of her Washington, D.C., residence following a federal search of the property last week, stating that the intense public attention brought on by the raid has compromised her sense of security.
Federal authorities are currently investigating potential fraud concerning her family’s historical immigration paperwork. According to a person briefed on the matter who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, grand jury subpoenas have also been issued to some of her relatives in connection with the ongoing criminal inquiry.
In her first media interview since the search, Omar maintained her innocence and expressed assurance regarding her legal standing. The progressive Minnesota Democrat is running for reelection in a deeply blue Minneapolis district ahead of the November 3 midterms, which will determine control of both chambers of Congress. She is widely expected to retain her seat.
Recalling the execution of the search warrant, Omar said that Homeland Security investigators arrived at her door at approximately 6 a.m. The agents conducted a search lasting four to five hours and seized 17 items, including electronic devices, notebooks, a Somali-language children’s book, and a vintage camera given to her husband as a gift. She described the agents as intrusive yet polite during the process, noting that they systematically logged the removed items and restored order to the rest of the residence.
The Justice Department has released minimal information regarding the case, characterizing it only as an active criminal investigation. Omar arrived in the United States with her family as an asylum seeker at the age of 12 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen five years later in 2000.
Addressing the implications of the inquiry, Omar questioned the feasibility of the government’s trajectory. It would be a massive undertaking to indict a 12-year-old for allegedly conspiring to defraud immigration services to enter the country, she noted, adding that while clever children exist, such a theory represents a significant leap.
The timing of the federal action has drawn substantial criticism from congressional Democrats, who questioned why the investigation advanced so close to a national election. Historically, the Justice Department has maintained a policy of avoiding overt investigative steps involving political candidates in the immediate period preceding an election. Omar has frequently clashed with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly advocated for the prosecution of his perceived political opponents.
