In brief
The Minnesota congresswoman said she can no longer live in her Washington DC home after Homeland Security agents stormed the house at dawn, seizing more than a dozen items. Omar highlighted ongoing death threats and her fear that the raid exposed her address and jeopardized her safety. She described the action as a weaponisation of federal law enforcement against a political opponent, calling the raid an outrageous abuse of power. Officials have yet to name the alleged crime, but subpoenas and seizures—of her passport and cameras—have been part of a broader investigation that critics say is politically motivated. Former President Obama decried the probe as appalling, while Trump denied involvement, even though he has repeatedly urged the congresswoman to return to her country of origin.
Ilhan Omar, the Minnesota congresswoman, said she can no longer reside in her Washington DC house after federal agents conducted a pre‑dawn raid last week, citing death threats and risk of exposure.
The representative told an MSN NOW interview that a Homeland Security Investigations team entered her home at about 6 a.m. EDT (11 a.m. BST) on Oct. 12, pounding on the doors and ultimately seizing more than 17 items, including cell phones, notebooks and a 1960s camera.
Omar said she had long faced death‑threats chatter and that the raid made staying put “unfeasible for her and her kids.” She described the action as “bizarre” and “an outrageous abuse of power,” adding that the search was “weaponisation of federal law enforcement to target political enemies.”
Officials have not announced an alleged crime. The Department of Justice said the operation was part of an ongoing criminal investigation, while immigration officials have issued dozens of subpoenas to members of Omar’s family, and her personal computers and passport were seized.
Former President Barack Obama called the probe “so appalling,” while Donald Trump dismissed any involvement, though he had repeatedly urged that Omar “go back” to her country of origin. Omar countered, insisting that the president’s warnings were tied to the investigation, citing statements from 2019 regarding a potential deportation.
The raid comes amid heightened scrutiny over Omar’s 2000 U.S. citizenship and the political fallout from her outspoken stance on immigration and foreign policy. It follows earlier reports that HSI agents placed boxes outside her residence and that she has faced continuous calls to return to Kenya or Somalia.
