Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) says she plans to leave her Washington, D.C., residence following a federal immigration investigation that resulted in agents searching her home earlier this month.
The congresswoman revealed her decision during an interview Wednesday, October 21, citing threats against her family and concerns about their safety after details of the search became public.
Her announcement follows an October 12 operation in which Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at her residence.
According to Omar, federal agents arrived at approximately 6 a.m. and spent four to five hours searching the property.
Her husband and adult son were reportedly inside the home when investigators arrived.
During an interview with MS NOW host Chris Hayes, Omar described the agents as “intrusive but polite” while explaining the circumstances surrounding the operation.
The congresswoman said the extensive publicity surrounding the raid exposed her home address, raising concerns about threats directed toward her family.
She expressed particular concern about children who regularly visit the residence and said relocating would help address those safety issues.
The decision comes amid an ongoing federal investigation into immigration documents connected to Omar and members of her family.
According to Reuters, investigators are examining whether inaccurate information was submitted during immigration proceedings when Omar was a child.
Omar was born in Somalia and entered the United States with her family in the 1990s, when she was approximately 12 years old.
She obtained American citizenship in 2000, years before entering Congress.
Sources familiar with the investigation reportedly indicated that the sealed warrant referenced possible immigration fraud, false statements and conspiracy.
However, investigators have not publicly established that Omar committed any of those offenses.
The search itself does not mean prosecutors have obtained sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.
Omar has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and defended the accuracy of her immigration history.
During Wednesday’s interview, she expressed confidence that the investigation would not establish criminal conduct.
She said she was “confident in the fact that I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The congresswoman has also accused President Donald Trump’s administration of using federal law enforcement to target political opponents, per the Conservative Brief.
She previously described the search as an effort to “target political enemies” and vowed to continue challenging the administration.
“I will not be silenced,” Omar declared following the operation.
Trump, meanwhile, has denied personally directing the search.
When questioned by reporters about the investigation, the president said he had “nothing to do” with the operation and referred questions about its execution to federal authorities.
He nevertheless continued criticizing Omar, calling her “totally crooked” and a “terrible person.”
Those remarks reflect the president’s accusations rather than any finding of criminal wrongdoing.
White House border adviser Tom Homan has also acknowledged the existence of an investigation involving allegations connected to Omar.
Homan subsequently indicated that questions about the inquiry’s specifics should be directed to Justice Department and Homeland Security officials.
The investigation has generated political controversy because of its timing, with the November 3 midterm elections approaching.
Congressional Democrats have questioned whether the search represents political retaliation against a prominent critic of the administration.
Republicans, meanwhile, have emphasized that federal investigators should examine credible allegations of immigration fraud regardless of an individual’s political position.
The search has also intensified public discussion about Omar’s background and her longstanding disagreements with Trump over immigration policy.
Despite the legal controversy, Omar says she intends to continue representing Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District and pursuing reelection.
Her decision to leave the Washington residence does not mean she is departing Congress, withdrawing from the election or leaving the United States.
Instead, the planned move concerns the home searched by federal agents and the safety concerns she says followed the operation.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal charges against Omar have been publicly announced in connection with the reported immigration allegations.
