Federal agents seize Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone in immigration probe

Federal authorities investigating Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar seized the Democratic lawmaker’s phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe.

The investigation centers on Omar’s immigration status and citizenship. Federal agents raided Omar’s home on Monday as they investigated her immigration paperwork. The probe will look into whether Omar’s late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, lied or omitted information in immigration forms before becoming a U.S. citizen, including his daughter’s age.

Subpoenas and Family Involvement

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued roughly a dozen subpoenas as part of the probe, a source familiar confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation. Omar’s sister, Sahra Noor, and another family member received a subpoena as part of the investigation, The New York Times first reported.

Grand jury subpoenas are issued to gather evidence about possible crimes. Omar immigrated to the U.S. in March 1995 when she was 12 years old and became a citizen at 17 years old, meaning she could be conferred through a parent.

Administration Statements and Accusations

President Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly accused Omar of committing immigration fraud by marrying her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed to the Daily Caller in May that the administration was investigating the congresswoman.

“It certainly seems like something fishy is there,” Vance told the Caller. “But everyone is entitled to equal justice under the laws. So we’re going to investigate it, we’re going to take a look at it. If we think there’s a crime, we’re going to prosecute that crime, and that’s something that the Department of Justice is looking at right now.”

Trump criticized Omar during a campaign rally in Ohio. “I don’t know what they’re doing with it, but I can tell you this: She’s a disaster,” Trump said. “She comes in from a country without laws, without police, without military, where all they do is shoot each other, and she comes into our country and she says, ‘I have a constitutional right.’”

Omar’s Response and Scope of Investigation

Omar accused the administration of politically targeting her with “baseless lies and smear campaigns.”

“I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced,” Omar said in a Monday statement on X.

The investigation involves whistleblowers, documents and witness testimony regarding Omar’s status and is being conducted by The Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. attorney in Minneapolis and the DOJ, a source told NBC News. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro confirmed her office is investigating Omar’s financial disclosures.

Why it matters

The seizure of a sitting member of Congress’s phone and the issuance of subpoenas to family members marks a significant escalation in federal scrutiny of a high-profile political figure. The case highlights tensions between the executive branch’s enforcement actions and congressional immunity claims, while raising questions about the procedural handling of immigration fraud allegations involving naturalized citizens.

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Sources

• dailycaller.com: DOJ Issues Nearly A Dozen Subpoenas In Immigration Probe Against Ilhan Omar; Includes Members Of Her Family | The Daily Caller
• thestar.com: Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone seized and relatives subpoenaed in criminal probe, AP source says

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.