United States | News
Ilhan Omar to Move Out of Washington Home After Federal Agents’ Raid, Citing Safety Fears
Africa | Washington, DC | October 23, 2026
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she plans to move out of her Washington, DC, residence after federal agents searched the property as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, citing security concerns and death threats against her and her family.
Omar, a Democratic representative from Minnesota, disclosed her decision in an interview with US broadcaster MS NOW on Wednesday, October 21. She said the search had made it difficult to continue living at the property because its address was now public and she feared for the safety of her children.
“With the death threats that I deal with, it’s no longer going to be feasible to be in that house and have my kids visiting off and on,” Omar said, explaining that she was concerned about people tracking her family.
What happened during the search?
Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington residence on October 12 under a court-authorized warrant. The US Department of Justice confirmed that the operation formed part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation but provided limited details about the case.
Omar said investigators arrived at approximately 6am and searched the property for four to five hours. According to her account, agents seized 17 items, including phones, notebooks, a Somali-language children’s book and a vintage camera belonging to her husband.
The investigation reportedly concerns possible irregularities or false statements in immigration paperwork connected to Omar’s family. Authorities have also issued grand jury subpoenas to some of her relatives, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
However, the full scope of the investigation remains unclear, and the search itself does not establish that Omar committed any offence.
Omar denies wrongdoing
Omar has strongly rejected any suggestion that she acted illegally. She arrived in the United States as a child refugee from Somalia and became a naturalized US citizen in 2000.
In her interview, she said she was confident she had done nothing wrong and maintained that she had a legal right to serve in Congress.
The congresswoman has also questioned the circumstances surrounding the investigation, arguing that the action reflects political intimidation. She has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump and has faced repeated attacks from him and some of his political allies over immigration-related allegations.
Trump, for his part, has denied responsibility for the search, saying the matter was for the Justice Department to handle.
Political tensions ahead of US midterm elections
The search has intensified political tensions in Washington because it occurred less than a month before the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, which will determine control of the US House of Representatives and Senate.
Democratic lawmakers have criticized the operation and raised concerns about its timing, while the Justice Department has defended the legality of its actions.
Omar’s legal team has separately challenged the search and demanded the return of seized property, alleging that investigators failed to follow safeguards intended to protect congressional rights. The Justice Department has rejected the lawyers’ accusations.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal charge against Omar had been announced in the reports reviewed for this article.
Security concerns extend beyond one residence
Omar’s decision to relocate highlights the personal security concerns facing public officials who receive threats amid increasingly hostile political rhetoric.
The congresswoman has previously experienced a physical attack. In January 2026, she was sprayed with an unknown substance during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis while speaking about US immigration enforcement. A man was subsequently sentenced to prison in connection with the incident, according to Al Jazeera’s earlier reporting.
For Omar, the immediate concern is protecting her family while continuing her congressional responsibilities. Her planned move does not mean she intends to leave Congress or abandon her political activities.
Note: The search of an elected lawmaker’s home raises questions about investigative accountability, congressional protections and public officials’ safety. The allegations remain under investigation, and any conclusions about criminal responsibility must be based on evidence and due process rather than political accusations.