Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar says she plans to move out of her Washington, D.C., residence after federal agents searched the property on October 12. The congresswoman cited security concerns and death threats as investigators examine possible fraud involving her family’s immigration documents. Omar denies wrongdoing, while the Justice Department has confirmed an ongoing criminal investigation.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar announced Wednesday, October 21, that she intends to leave her Washington, D.C., home following a federal search that has intensified scrutiny of her immigration history and drawn criticism from congressional Democrats.
In her first televised interview since the October 12 search, Omar told MS NOW that the attention surrounding the investigation, combined with death threats, had made her feel unsafe at the property, particularly when her children visit.
“Because our address has been public and with the death threats that I deal with … it’s no longer going to be feasible to be in that house and have my kids visiting off and on and having people track them,” Omar said.
Federal authorities are investigating potential fraud involving immigration paperwork connected to Omar’s family. A person familiar with the inquiry told The Associated Press that investigators have issued grand jury subpoenas to some of her relatives. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation remains ongoing.
Omar, who was born in Somalia and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000, rejected any suggestion that she had committed wrongdoing.
“I’m confident in the fact that I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said.
What Happened During the Search?
Omar recalled being awakened at approximately 6 a.m. when Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at her residence with a search warrant.
According to her account, between 15 and 25 agents searched the property for approximately four to five hours, examining rooms and collecting 17 items.
The seized items included mobile phones, notebooks, a Somali-language children’s book and a vintage camera that had belonged to her husband’s uncle and was given to him as a graduation gift.
Omar described the agents as “intrusive but polite,” saying they documented the items they took and returned the remaining belongings to their places before leaving.
The Justice Department has released limited information about the investigation, confirming that the search was conducted under a judicially authorized warrant as part of an ongoing criminal case.
Federal investigators are examining allegations involving immigration documents dating back decades. However, authorities have not publicly established that Omar committed fraud, and the existence of an investigation does not constitute evidence of guilt.
Omar Questions the Allegations
Omar arrived in the United States with her family at age 12 after they obtained asylum. She became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
Responding to allegations concerning her family’s immigration history, she questioned how investigators could establish that she had knowingly participated in wrongdoing as a child.
“It would be a huge undertaking to, I suppose, indict a 12-year-old for so cleverly conspiring to defraud immigration services to come to the United States,” she said. “I’m sure there are a lot of smart 12-year-olds, but that seems like a leap.”
The investigation has generated renewed attention to allegations about Omar’s immigration history that have circulated for years. Omar has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Her attorneys have also challenged the legality and timing of the search. In a letter to federal prosecutors, they alleged that investigators failed to follow certain restrictions imposed by a magistrate judge, including requirements concerning notification to congressional legal counsel and providing Omar’s lawyers with a copy of the warrant.
The Justice Department rejected those accusations, saying its attorneys and law enforcement partners complied with all court orders and legal obligations.
Search Draws Criticism Ahead of Midterm Elections
The search took place less than a month before the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, prompting criticism from congressional Democrats, who questioned whether such a high-profile investigative action should have occurred so close to Election Day.
Omar, a progressive Democrat representing a Minneapolis-centered district in Minnesota, has frequently clashed with President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly criticized her and called for investigations into political opponents.
Her attorneys have described the investigation as politically motivated, arguing that it forms part of a broader campaign against one of the president’s most outspoken critics.
Federal authorities, meanwhile, have maintained that the investigation is a criminal matter. No charges against Omar have been announced in connection with the reported inquiry as of October 22.
The timing has also drawn attention because the Justice Department has historically sought to avoid overt investigative steps involving political candidates close to an election when those actions could create the appearance of political interference.
A Personal Decision Amid an Ongoing Investigation
For Omar, the immediate consequence has been a decision to leave a home she said no longer provides adequate security for her family.
She explained that keeping the address private has become difficult and that the continued presence of threats makes it increasingly challenging to have her children visit.
The investigation continues, with federal authorities examining potential immigration-related fraud and seeking information through grand jury subpoenas.
The case remains unresolved, and the central allegations have not been proven in court. Omar maintains that she has done nothing wrong, while her legal team continues to challenge aspects of the investigation.
For now, the congresswoman faces both the legal uncertainty surrounding the federal inquiry and the personal disruption of leaving her Washington residence just weeks before voters decide control of Congress.
