Federal agents seize Ilhan Omar’s cellphone in immigration fraud probe
Federal agents from the Department of Justice and Homeland Security seized Representative Ilhan Omar’s cellphone during a judge‑authorized raid on her Washington, D.C., residence on October 12, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged immigration fraud.
The investigation focuses on whether Omar or her family provided false information on immigration paperwork, specifically about her age when she entered the United States in 1995. Omar became a naturalized citizen in 2000 after her father’s naturalization gave her eligibility at age 17.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed the search warrant after a federal judge approved it. In addition to the phone, agents reportedly took boxes of evidence from the home.
“There are several investigations going on, and I don’t think there’s any question, but if there was a crime that was committed, it will be prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told Fox News.
Subpoenas have been issued to more than a dozen of Omar’s relatives as part of the grand‑jury effort. The subpoenas aim to gather documents and testimony related to the immigration filings of Omar and her late father, Nur Omar Mohamed.
Omar’s office called the raid “outrageous abuse of power,” asserting that she has done nothing wrong and accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing federal law enforcement for political purposes. Omar herself posted on social media that she will not be silenced.
Lawmakers and observers note that the timing of the raid – weeks before the November midterm elections in which Omar is seeking reelection – adds a heightened political dimension to the case. However, the search warrant was signed by a D.C. District Court judge, and investigators say the action is grounded in evidence of potential fraud.
The Department of Justice has not disclosed what, if any, data was retrieved from the seized device. The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been filed against Omar at this time.
