Federal agents searched Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home early Monday as part of a criminal investigation, and some critics argued that the agency involved signals the Trump administration may be seeking to deport her.
The search was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations agents, according to sources who spoke to The Associated Press and Fox News. The Justice Department said HSI agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the department in the Washington area as part of “an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” but did not name Omar or give other details.
“It’s very significant that the raid against Omar was conducted by HSI,” wrote communications strategist Dante Atkins. “That means that whatever justified the warrant isn’t related to corruption or misconduct. They’re specifically looking for evidence that she committed immigration fraud so they can denaturalize and deport her.”
HSI, part of the Department of Homeland Security, also investigates crimes such as human trafficking, drug smuggling and cybercrime. AP reported that the focus of the probe was not immediately clear, but two sources told Fox News, which aired video from outside the home, that it centers on immigration paperwork Omar’s late father filled out when she was a child. Omar came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia at age 12.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Omar and Minnesota’s Somali community, calling Somali immigrants “garbage” and saying Omar should be thrown out of the country.
“What the facts have shown since I’ve gotten into elected office is that every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket,” Omar said in January, a day after a man squirted a liquid at her during a Minneapolis town hall.
Vice President JD Vance said in May the administration would investigate immigration fraud allegations against Omar, which she has called “disgusting lies.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who finished fifth in South Carolina’s GOP primary for governor in June, called for Omar to be denaturalized and deported.
“I tried to subpoena Ilhan Omar and her brother-husband’s immigration records,” Mace posted. “Both parties blocked it in Oversight. This morning HSI raided her home with a judicially authorized warrant, presumably over the same paperwork. If the fraud is proven, she should be denaturalized and deported home to Somalia.”
Omar has repeatedly denied claims that she married her brother. Her office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AP and Fox.