United States Representative Ilhan Omar has spoken out following a raid by Homeland Security Investigations agents at her residence in Washington, DC, accusing President Donald Trump of using federal law enforcement to intimidate political opponents.
The Minnesota Democrat, a member of the progressive group known as “The Squad,” made the remarks in a statement posted on X on Monday, hours after agents searched her home.
“I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” Omar said.
“For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” she added.
The congresswoman also responded directly to the president, declaring, “I will not be silenced.”
Omar received support from fellow Democrats, including Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who criticised the operation in a post on X.
“DHS raiding a member of Congress’s home is exactly what a fascist police state does,” Tlaib wrote.
Omar’s spokesperson, Jacklyn Rogers, also defended the congresswoman, insisting that she had not committed any wrongdoing.
“For a decade, Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly putting a target on her back,” Rogers said. “Now, those attacks have escalated to a pointless federal raid.”
Homeland Security Investigations agents were seen removing boxes of materials from Omar’s home in Northeast Washington on Monday after executing a search warrant in the early hours of the morning.
The operation reportedly startled some of the congresswoman’s neighbours. One resident said they heard a “loud banging” at Omar’s door at around 4 or 5 a.m., followed by “a man screaming, ‘Open the door, open the door.”
Sources familiar with the investigation indicated that Omar had been under scrutiny for several years over aspects of her immigration history. The inquiry could involve allegations that her late father made a false statement on immigration paperwork.
If authorities establish that false statements were made on relevant forms, Omar could potentially face denaturalisation proceedings. However, such a process would likely take years and could be challenged in court.
Officials in the Trump administration have previously suggested that the Minnesota lawmaker was being investigated over allegations that she fraudulently married her brother to help him obtain a green card. Omar has repeatedly denied the allegations and has not been charged with an immigration-related offence.
Border czar Tom Homan said on Fox News that investigators had presented evidence to a Washington court to obtain the search warrant. A judge subsequently approved it, according to Homan.
Trump commented on the raid later on Monday, describing Omar in critical terms while denying that he had been involved in the operation.
“I’ve always found her to be totally crooked personally, but that has nothing to do with me,” Trump said.
“I think she’s a terrible person. Just a complainer. She comes from a country that is a non-country. And then she comes over here, and she complains about our Constitution,” he added.
The president also distanced himself from the investigation, saying, “That’s really up to the DOJ — I have nothing to do with it.”
Omar, 44, was born in Somalia and became a US citizen in 2000 at the age of 17. She is seeking re-election on November 3 for a fifth term in the House of Representatives.
The raid has intensified the political dispute between Omar and the Trump administration, with the congresswoman and her allies describing the search as politically motivated, while administration officials have pointed to the judicial approval of the warrant.
