Federal agents search Ilhan Omar home amid criminal investigation

US federal agents searched the Washington home of Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar as part of a criminal investigation, according to officials. The operation took place early in the morning and was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of US immigration enforcement. It has triggered a sharp political backlash and renewed accusations that the Trump administration is using federal law enforcement against political opponents.

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The Justice Department said agents executed a judicially authorised search warrant in the Washington area, but did not identify Ms Omar or disclose the nature of the probe. Tom Homan, described by President Donald Trump as his border czar, said the search was part of a longstanding investigation. Fox News reported that the case was linked to a criminal fraud inquiry involving immigration paperwork submitted on behalf of Ms Omar by her late father when she was a child, but that detail has not been confirmed by the Justice Department.

Ms Omar said she was "ok" after the search and accused the administration of targeting political opponents just three weeks before she seeks re-election in the 3 November midterms. She wrote that the operation was an attempt to "target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement" and said Mr Trump had spent ten years pursuing her with what she called baseless lies and smear campaigns. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also accused Mr Trump of abusing his power to go after political opponents weeks before an election.

The case matters because it sits at the intersection of criminal law enforcement and a highly charged election campaign. Ms Omar is a prominent left-wing Democrat and a frequent critic of Mr Trump, particularly over immigration policy. Any federal action involving a sitting member of Congress is likely to intensify scrutiny over whether the administration is acting on evidence or engaging in political retaliation, especially with the midterms approaching.

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The confrontation also reflects a long-running feud between Mr Trump and Ms Omar. She came to the United States from Somalia as a child and has often been a target of the president's attacks. Mr Trump told reporters at the White House that she was being investigated "very carefully" and described her in personal terms, while insisting the matter had nothing to do with him.

Democrats responded by accusing him of abusing government power to pursue his opponents. What remains unclear is the exact scope of the investigation, what evidence prompted the warrant, and whether any charges will follow. Officials have not publicly confirmed the reported link to immigration paperwork, and the Justice Department has not identified Ms Omar in its statement.

The next developments will likely depend on whether investigators disclose more about the basis for the search or whether Ms Omar's campaign and congressional allies continue to press claims of political targeting.

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