WASHINGTON, 12 Oct. - (ANA) - US federal agents conducted a predawn raid on the home of Democratic US Representative Ilhan Omar on Monday.

 

The search followed a criminal fraud investigation into Ms Omar's immigration paperwork, which was filled out by the Somali-born politician's late father when she was a child, Fox News reported, quoting unidentified sources.

 

A Justice Department representative told AP that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had authorised a search warrant, adding that the action was part of a continuing federal investigation.

 

Ms Omar has repeatedly denied allegations of wrongdoing, describing them as false and politically motivated.

 

“This raid by Trump’s DHS is an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponisation of federal law enforcement to target political enemies,” Jacklyn Rogers, communications director for Ms Omar's office, said in a statement.

 

“For a decade, [US President] Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly putting a target on her back. Now, those attacks have escalated to a pointless federal raid.”

 

The Justice Department did not immediately return The National's request for comment.

 

Ms Omar was taken to the US as a child, fleeing the civil war in Somalia. She became a US citizen at the age of 17 in 2000 and, in 2018, was elected to Congress to represent Minnesota's 5th District, which includes all of Minneapolis. Ms Omar is seeking another term for the seat in the midterms on November 3.

 

An outspoken critic of Mr Trump, he has previously suggested she should leave the country.

 

In February, he said Ms Omar and fellow Democrat Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who is also Muslim, should be “institutionalised” after they criticised his remarks during the State of Union address.

 

Mr Trump has also recently attacked Abdul El Sayed, who is aiming to win a US Senate seat in Michigan. Should he win, Mr El Sayed would be the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress.

 

The US President has used anti-Muslim language in online attacks against the Democrat, calling him a “jihadist lunatic”.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/12 October 2026 - - -