Somali-born congresswoman Ilhan Omar launches legal fight over home search

Somali-born Muslim Rep. Ilhan Omar is challenging the search of her Washington home. Her lawyers say it was unlawful and want her phone and other property returned.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Somali-born Muslim member of the U.S. House, has launched a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s search of her Washington home. In a letter sent to the Justice Department on Friday, her attorneys demanded the immediate return of everything seized.

Homeland Security officers carried out the search on Monday, Oct. 12, under a warrant signed by a federal magistrate judge, and took Omar’s phone. Her lawyers say the search was “neither justified nor lawful,” and, according to The Washington Post, argue that authorities ignored restrictions set by the judge.

Part of an immigration probe

Entrance of the U.S. Justice Department building (file photo)

The search is part of an immigration fraud investigation targeting Omar, in which more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas have been issued, including to relatives. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has pointed to the family’s immigration paperwork, and Washington U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Omar’s financial disclosures are also being examined.

The attorneys say there is “no legitimate basis” to claim Omar, a citizen since 2000, broke citizenship laws, and call the probe politically motivated ahead of the midterms. Omar has previously dismissed allegations about her marriage and immigration status as “disgusting lies.”

Department: We followed every order

Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said the letter is “riddled with false allegations and inaccuracies” and that the department complied with all court orders. Trump has said he had “nothing to do” with the search and that it was up to the Justice Department.

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