Federal investigators seized the passport, cellphone, computers, and personal notebooks of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) during a raid on her Washington, D.C., residence on October 12. This operation marks a significant escalation in a federal investigation by the Trump administration into whether the Minnesota Democrat unlawfully obtained American citizenship. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed the court-authorized search warrant at the congresswoman's home.
"President Trump would love to eliminate one of the most effective progressive voices in Congress. There is no basis for this." Omar's office, Statement
The investigation, led by federal prosecutors in Minnesota, is reportedly examining whether Omar or her late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, provided false information on immigration paperwork. Such information could have allowed her to obtain citizenship in 2000. Omar, 44, has consistently maintained that she automatically became an American citizen at age 17 when her father completed his naturalization process. However, federal authorities are reportedly scrutinizing discrepancies involving her date of birth, which could potentially undermine her account.
According to reports, some records identify Omar’s birthdate as October 4, 1981, while others list October 4, 1982. This distinction could prove significant because Omar’s eligibility to obtain citizenship through her father depended partly on whether she was legally considered a minor at the time he became a citizen. If the earlier birth year (1981) is accurate, investigators are examining whether Omar would have been ineligible to receive citizenship through that specific process. Authorities are also investigating whether any discrepancies were deliberate rather than administrative errors.
During the October 12 operation, agents reportedly recovered Omar’s passport, electronic devices, and notebooks. Omar and her husband, political consultant Tim Mynett, were reportedly inside the residence when federal investigators executed the search warrant. In addition to the immigration inquiry, a separate investigation into the couple’s financial disclosures is being pursued by the office of Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. The New York Post also reported that more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas have been issued to Omar’s relatives, including her sister, Sahra Noor, seeking information concerning the family’s immigration history and documentation.
The scrutiny reportedly extends to efforts by Omar’s staff in 2019 to correct public records. These records identified her birth year as 1981 rather than 1982. According to the report, staff members contacted the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, and Wikipedia seeking changes to those records.
The investigation could have substantial consequences if federal authorities establish that citizenship was obtained through deliberate fraud. Federal defense attorney Todd Spodek explained that certain criminal immigration offenses are subject to statutes of limitations. In contrast, civil denaturalization proceedings generally do not face the same time restrictions. A criminal conviction for knowingly procuring naturalization unlawfully can also require the revocation of citizenship under federal law. However, removing Omar’s citizenship through civil proceedings would require the government to establish sufficient legal grounds in court. The report indicates that no sitting or former member of Congress has previously been denaturalized.
The Department of Justice has expanded its pursuit of civil denaturalization cases during President Trump’s second administration, filing nearly 200 cases since January 2025. An analysis by Democracy Forward found that approximately 20 of these cases had concluded with defendants placed into deportation proceedings.
Omar’s office has rejected the investigation’s allegations, issuing a statement that read: “President Trump would love to eliminate one of the most effective progressive voices in Congress. There is no basis for this.” President Trump denied personally directing the investigation on Monday, while sharply criticizing the Minnesota Democrat. "Just a complainer," President Trump told reporters. "She comes from a country that is a non-country. And then she comes over here, and she complains about our Constitution."
This escalating investigation comes just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, where Omar is seeking another term in Congress. Despite the expanding federal inquiry, Omar has not been charged with immigration fraud, and no court has ordered her citizenship revoked or authorized her deportation. The process remains an active investigation.
