Federal agents reportedly seized Ilhan Omar’s passport, phone and computer, sent roughly a dozen subpoenas, and Trump calls her ‘a terrible person’

Federal agents reportedly took Rep. Ilhan Omar’s phone, passport and computers when agents searched Omar’s residence in Washington, D.C., on Monday, and about a dozen subpoenas have gone out. According to NBC News, two sources close to the case said the phone was taken and that some subpoenas went to her relatives. Another report said a passport, notebooks and personal computers were taken as well.

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, prosecutors in Minneapolis and Justice Department lawyers are handling the case. The subpoenas connect to a grand jury in Omar’s home state. One source said Omar was not among those subpoenaed, and that agents wanted to talk with her sister but had not yet reached her.

Possible counts include conspiracy and false statements on immigration filings, that person added. No charges have been reported. Omar wrote on X that the search was “an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.” Justice officials had no comment, and her office did not respond.

Investigators examine Omar’s immigration paperwork

Her immigration history is under review, and her birth date is among the items. The inquiry draws on tips from whistleblowers, records and witness accounts. Omar is Somali-born and arrived in the U.S. during the 1990s with relatives. She was naturalized at 17, and because she was a minor, citizenship could pass through a parent. This is called derivative citizenship.

Investigators are also checking whether Omar or her late father gave her age as 17 instead of 18 on the application, a further report said. Removing citizenship from a naturalized person takes a federal court case. The government has to show it was obtained unlawfully or through concealment or misrepresentation of a material fact.

At least two relatives, including her sister, Sahra Noor, have been subpoenaed, the New York Times found. Her husband, Tim Mynett, said she arrived as a 12-year-old war refugee and that he has “no concerns.” Omar rejects claims of immigration fraud. A separate report said her staff helped change her listed birth year from 1981 to 1982 on a Minnesota library site and other sites.

A five-year limit typically applies to such cases, which could make older conduct hard to charge. Investigators could instead examine more recent conduct by Omar or her relatives. The search took place about three weeks ahead of Election Day. Justice Department practice generally steers clear of visible steps that could sway an election this close to voting. Seizing a current House member’s phone would also usually set off protocols designed to protect the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause.

Jeanine Pirro, who is a U.S. attorney, said her office is looking into Omar’s financial disclosures too. In her 2024 disclosure, businesses linked to her husband were assigned a combined value from $6 million to $30 million. Omar’s office called those numbers wrong and revised the form, which now lists his stakes in a winery and a venture advisory company at $0. The office said her husband shares ownership of both companies with other partners and that the original form showed total company equity.

Trump was asked on Monday whether he knew about the search ahead of time. He said Washington was examining Omar “very carefully” and added, “I think she’s a terrible person, but that’s really up to the DOJ.” Last month, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, said “something’s going to happen” with Omar but that the review was continuing.

Immigration enforcement is a campaign topic elsewhere as well, including in Los Angeles, where mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has pledged to replace the police chief.