Federal investigators have seized the cellphone of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and issued grand jury subpoenas to several of her relatives as part of a criminal probe into alleged fraud tied to her immigration paperwork, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The development, first reported by The Associated Press, marks a significant escalation in a federal investigation that has shadowed the progressive lawmaker for weeks. The subpoenas were served on Omar's sister, Sahra Noor, and at least one other family member, according to The New York Times.
The action comes just over a month after White House border czar Tom Homan publicly confirmed the existence of a federal criminal investigation involving Omar. Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations—the investigative arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—searched Omar's Washington, D.C., residence on Monday.
Omar, who came to the United States as a child with her family from Somalia during the civil war and received citizenship in 2000, has long been the target of conservative attacks over her immigration status. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and on Monday took to social media to denounce the raid as a political act.
“For ten years, [President Trump] has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” she wrote on X. “I will not be silenced.”
The timing of the federal action has raised eyebrows among legal observers. The Justice Department typically refrains from major investigative steps against candidates in the 60 days preceding an election. The midterms are less than three weeks away, and Omar is on the ballot seeking reelection.
Trump and Republican lawmakers have repeatedly accused Omar of fraud and questioned her citizenship, though no charges have been filed. The president has also ramped up his attacks on the Minnesota Democrat in recent days, including at a rally in Ohio where he referenced the federal probe. Trump's rally rhetoric has intensified as the investigation unfolds.
Omar's defenders argue that the probe is part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration using federal law enforcement to target political adversaries. The raid on her home is the latest in a series of aggressive actions by federal agencies that critics say have blurred the line between legitimate investigation and political retaliation.
Legal experts note that the investigation remains in its early stages, and it is unclear whether any charges will ultimately be brought. The grand jury's focus on Omar's immigration paperwork suggests investigators are examining whether she provided false information or concealed details when applying for citizenship.
For now, Omar has vowed to continue her work in Congress and her reelection campaign, calling the investigation a “smear campaign” that she intends to withstand. The case is likely to remain a flashpoint in the final weeks before the election, as both parties seize on the developments to energize their bases.
