Federal agents searched the Washington, D.C. residence of Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, on October 12, 2026, as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
In a statement to National Public Radio (NPR), the DOJ confirmed that agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a judicially authorized search warrant. The department did not publicly disclose the investigation’s full scope. Current and former federal officials familiar with the search told NPR that the investigation includes whistleblower complaints and allegations of immigration fraud.
Additional reporting by TIME on October 14 described scrutiny of immigration paperwork completed by Omar’s late father when she was a child. According to TIME, the investigation raises questions about the information provided during the process through which Omar obtained U.S. citizenship. The specific evidence investigators are examining has not been fully disclosed publicly.
Omar, who was born in Somalia and came to the United States as a refugee, became a U.S. citizen in 2000. She has denied allegations of immigration fraud. Vice President JD Vance and other Trump administration officials have previously raised allegations concerning her immigration history, although TIME reported that officials had not publicly presented evidence establishing the allegations as fact.
Following the search, Omar criticized the federal agents’ actions in a social media post, describing the operation as an attempt to target political opponents. Her spokesperson, Jackie Rogers, also condemned the search, arguing that it represented an abuse of federal law enforcement authority. These statements reflect Omar’s position on the investigation; the DOJ has confirmed the search but has not yet publicly disclosed all the evidence underlying the case.
The search took place several weeks before the November 2026 midterm elections, in which Omar is seeking reelection. Its timing has drawn attention because of the Justice Department’s informal practice of avoiding certain investigative actions involving political candidates close to an election. The practice is intended to reduce the risk that law enforcement activity could influence an election or appear politically motivated. However, it is not a law that automatically prohibits investigative actions during this period, and the timing alone does not establish whether the search was politically motivated or violated department guidelines.
TIME also examined the possibility of denaturalization, the legal process through which the government may seek to revoke a person’s naturalized U.S. citizenship. The process requires legal proceedings and judicial review. An investigation or allegation alone does not establish grounds for revoking citizenship, and no conclusion about Omar’s citizenship status should be drawn solely from the search.
According to NPR, federal agents were seen outside Omar’s residence during the early morning hours. Sharon Jackson, a 79-year-old neighbor, told the news organization that the activity woke her at approximately 4:30 a.m.
As of October 14, federal authorities had confirmed the search, but many details about the investigation remained unclear. Omar has denied the allegations and investigators have not publicly presented evidence establishing that she committed any wrongdoing. For now, the investigation is still ongoing, and it is still unclear whether further information will clarify the allegations or lead to any legal action.
