Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) reported on Thursday, October 22, 2026, that federal agents seized 17 items from her Washington, D.C., residence during an early morning search conducted on October 12. The search, carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, is part of what the Department of Justice (DOJ) described as an ongoing federal criminal investigation.
The investigation follows public statements from President Donald Trump and his administration questioning the validity of Omar’s U.S. citizenship, which she obtained in 2000 after emigrating from Somalia via Kenya. The administration has alleged that Omar’s father may have misrepresented her age during the naturalization process. Omar has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, characterizing the investigation as a "campaign of political intimidation."
According to Omar, between 15 and 25 agents surrounded her home at 6:00 a.m. and presented a search warrant after knocking on the doors. During a search that lasted approximately five hours, agents reportedly took three cellphones, including an old travel phone and her daughter's first phone, as well as notebooks and a camera from the 1960s belonging to her husband. Reports also indicated that personal computers and her passport were seized. Omar noted that more than a dozen subpoenas have been issued to her family members as part of the probe.
A person in a similar legal position would notice a direct impact on their privacy and daily communication, as agents seized primary and secondary telecommunications devices. For Omar specifically, she stated the exposure of her address during the raid and subsequent safety concerns, including death threats, have made it no longer feasible to live in her D.C. home with her children. This necessitates a physical relocation and increased security measures for a federal lawmaker.
The investigation sets a precedent regarding the use of immigration-related probes against naturalized citizens serving in high-level government offices. While President Trump stated the probe has "nothing to do" with him, the outcome could influence future policy regarding citizenship verification and the expulsion of members of Congress, as at least one GOP lawmaker has indicated plans to move for Omar’s expulsion. The next steps in the legal process depend on the DOJ’s review of the seized materials; no specific court dates or deadlines for charges have been reported at this time.