A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to access to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s personal records during a search of her Washington, D.C., home.
According to CNN, U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh spent several days challenging Justice Department officials over their request to search the Minnesota Democrat’s home as part of an ongoing immigration fraud investigation.
The judge ultimately required investigators to establish a screening process to protect documents related to Omar’s congressional duties, which the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause protects.
The federal search took place Monday, Oct. 12, less than a month before the midterm elections, as Omar campaigns for another term in Congress. Omar has strongly condemned the investigation, accusing President Donald Trump of using federal agencies to go after his political opponents.
“This is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” Omar wrote on social media Monday. “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’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.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 12, 2026
Investigators are examining whether Omar or her late father provided false information about her age when she obtained American citizenship in 2000.
The inquiry centers on whether Omar was actually an adult when she became a citizen, despite documentation indicating she was a minor. She arrived in the United States as a Somali refugee at age 12. Investigators are also looking into whether alleged inconsistencies in government paperwork could be part of a bigger conspiracy involving multiple individuals.
According to CNN, investigators issued at least a dozen subpoenas beginning Friday, Oct. 9, including several directed at Omar’s relatives.
Federal authorities previously examined allegations involving Omar before Trump returned to office, but those inquiries did not result in criminal charges.
One longstanding accusation involves claims that Omar married her brother to help him obtain citizenship, but those allegations remain unsubstantiated, and Omar has repeatedly dismissed them as “bigoted lies.” She has not been charged with a crime and denies wrongdoing.
Me and Ilhan Omar are far apart policy wise. I’m pro life, she’s pro abortion. I’m pro 2A, she’s pro gun control. And on and on. But can someone tell me how pretending to get ready to deport Ilhan Omar is going to bring gas down under $2, make health insurance freaking affordable, make a family’s weekly grocery bill make sense, and stop sending our beloved military off to fight for another fucking foreign war??? People are so sick and tired of the bullshit. When you dumb mf’ers at the WH actually release the Epstein files and lock up the pedophiles and rapists you all hang out with, then we will start paying attention. Until then 🖕.
— Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@FmrRepMTG) October 15, 2026
The administration’s decision to search her home has also raised questions about the Justice Department’s traditional practice of avoiding politically sensitive investigative actions within 60 days of an election. Nevertheless, senior Justice Department officials approved the search.
Homeland Security officials have publicly defended investigations into alleged immigration violations.
“If someone committed immigration violation, someone committed marriage fraud or anything like that, regardless if they’re a congressman or not, no one’s above the law, so I’ll leave it at that,” White House border czar Tom Homan said during a September interview.
Meanwhile, a separate investigation into possible financial misconduct involving Omar remains underway.
When Fox News questioned Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro about Omar’s financial disclosures Tuesday, she confirmed that federal investigators were examining the matter.
“That is the subject of an investigation as well,” Pirro said. “We’re looking at the facts. Based upon the facts we will follow them wherever they take us.”
