Federal Agents Search Ilhan Omar's Home Over Immigration Fraud

Federal investigators searched the Washington-area residence of Ilhan Omar on Monday as part of a criminal investigation into alleged immigration fraud. The search followed a review of family text messages recovered from a phone seized earlier this year from Omar's sister, Sahra Noor.

Investigators are examining whether Omar and her relatives provided false information on immigration paperwork filed after they fled Somalia in the 1990s. A central point of the probe is whether Omar was over 18 years old at the time she naturalized. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated the government is building a "strong case" and indicated the investigation could lead to Omar's deportation.

Omar's legal team condemned the search as unconstitutional and politically motivated, noting a Justice Department policy that discourages overt investigative steps within 60 days of an election. Omar characterized the probe as a personal vendetta by President Donald Trump and his administration to strip her of her citizenship.