Feds seized Rep. Ilhan Omar’s phone, subpoenaed family members in immigration status probe
NBC News · LC · trust 57/100
The possible charges cited by federal officials included conspiracy and making false statements in immigration paperwork, one of the people said.
The search came just three weeks before the midterms, within the window of time when the Justice Department has typically avoided overt actions in criminal cases that could affect an election. And the seizure of the phone of a sitting member of Congress would typically trigger a set of law enforcement protocols meant to ensure investigators aren’t infringing upon the “speech or debate” clause of the U.S. Constitution, which protects members of Congress from being questioned for their legislative acts.
On Friday, roughly a dozen subpoenas were sent out in the case, including to her family members, the second person familiar with the investigation told NBC News.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., attends a news conference with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus on funding and accountability for the Department of Homeland Security in the Capitol Visitor Center on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty The congresswoman herself was not subpoenaed, the person said, adding that the orders seeking information are tied to a federal grand jury in Minnesota, Omar’s home state. Federal agents also want to talk to Omar’s sister but haven’t reached her yet, the person said.
The New York Times first reported the subpoenas.
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A spokesperson for Omar didn’t respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department declined to comment.
Omar said in a statement posted online on Monday that she would not be silenced.
“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,” she wrote.
One of the people familiar with the investigation said it involved whistleblowers, documents and witness testimony. The probe is examining matters surrounding Omar’s immigration status, including — but not limited to — her birthdate. Omar, who was born in Somalia and moved to the United States with her family in the 1990s, was naturalized when she was 17 years old, meaning she was a juvenile and could be conferred citizenship through a parent.
A criminal investigation could be complicated by the statute of limitations, which is typically five years, but investigators could look into Omar’s or her family members’ more recent actions that would fall within the statute of limitations.
Omar, who is part of a group of progressive women in Congress known as “the Squad,” has been a frequent target of Trump’s rhetoric against her and other members’ liberal positions, as well as Somali immigrants broadly.
Asked Monday if he had been aware of the search in advance, Trump said the federal government was looking at Omar “very carefully.” He also repeated his frequent attacks on her and Somalia.
“Then she comes over here and she complains about our Constitution,” Trump said. “I think she’s a terrible person, but that’s really up to the DOJ.”
That evening, Trump also…
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