Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says investigators have developed a substantial immigration fraud case involving Rep. Ilhan Omar and expect to present evidence to a grand jury, while the Minnesota Democrat denies wrongdoing and accuses the administration of political retaliation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Federal investigators executed multiple search warrants this week as part of an expanding criminal investigation into alleged immigration fraud involving Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin disclosed Friday, October 16.
The investigation, which involves immigration documents dating to Omar’s childhood, has prompted federal searches, the seizure of electronic devices and grand jury subpoenas involving members of her family. Mullin described the evidence gathered so far as a “strong case,” although prosecutors have not announced criminal charges against the congresswoman.
Speaking with Andrew Kolvet on The Charlie Kirk Show, Mullin confirmed that Monday’s search of Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence was part of a broader law enforcement operation involving additional locations.
“She wasn’t — or it wasn’t the only place we served the warrant,” Mullin said.
“There was multiple other warrants served on that same day. We had a judge sign it, and we expect to be able to take the case to a grand jury.”
The remarks provided new information about the scope of the operation, which was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Justice Department.
According to CBS News, which reported Mullin’s comments Friday, federal authorities have been examining allegations concerning immigration paperwork submitted when Omar and her family entered the United States from Somalia.
Omar arrived in the country as a refugee in 1995 and became a naturalized American citizen in 2000. Investigators are reportedly reviewing whether statements made in immigration and naturalization documents were accurate.
Some of the records under examination were allegedly completed by Omar’s late father when she was a child, raising questions about what information was submitted, who supplied it and whether any material representations were false.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
Mullin defended the decision to pursue the case despite criticism that the administration was using federal law enforcement against one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken political opponents.
“We wouldn’t move forward — and President Trump didn’t want to move forward either — unless we knew that it couldn’t be politically driven,” Mullin said.
“This was about enforcing, once again, our nation’s laws. And it’s a strong case.”
His statements came four days after federal agents searched Omar’s Washington residence under a warrant authorized by a federal judge.
The operation included the seizure of her personal cellphone, according to reporting by CBS News and the Associated Press. Investigators also obtained other records and electronic materials potentially relevant to the inquiry.
The Associated Press reported that more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas had been issued in connection with the investigation, including subpoenas involving Omar’s relatives.
Several family members reportedly received subpoenas Friday, October 9, three days before federal agents searched her home.
The subpoenas and search warrants indicate that investigators are gathering evidence, but they do not establish that Omar or anyone else committed a crime. A search warrant requires judicial authorization based on probable cause, while a grand jury determines whether sufficient evidence exists to support criminal charges.
Mullin’s expectation that the case will be presented to a grand jury does not mean an indictment has been issued or that prosecutors have reached a final charging decision.
The secretary also discussed whether coordinated immigration fraud could potentially fall under federal racketeering laws.
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as RICO, allows prosecutors to pursue certain offenses involving an enterprise and a pattern of qualifying criminal activity.
Asked about a hypothetical arrangement in which fraudulent immigration documents were used to bring additional people into the United States, Mullin suggested that such conduct could involve a conspiracy to deceive federal authorities.
He did not say investigators had established the elements of a racketeering offense or that prosecutors intended to bring RICO charges against Omar.
Mullin also suggested that racketeering laws could permit investigators to examine conduct extending back decades without being prevented by statutes of limitations.
Federal criminal RICO prosecutions generally operate under a five-year limitations period, although qualifying acts within an ongoing pattern of racketeering activity can permit prosecutors to introduce evidence of older conduct.
Whether such provisions could apply to the circumstances under investigation would depend on the specific evidence, applicable offenses and timing of any alleged criminal acts.
The investigation has also attracted attention because it concerns immigration records dating back more than two decades.
According to Reuters’ October 16 examination of the inquiry, federal investigators are reviewing possible false statements and conspiracy allegations associated with the immigration and naturalization process.
The inquiry reportedly includes consideration of whether immigration-related misconduct, if established, could provide grounds for additional proceedings involving Omar’s citizenship.
However, denaturalization requires a separate legal process, and a criminal investigation does not automatically invalidate an individual’s citizenship.
Omar has repeatedly rejected allegations that she misrepresented her immigration history and has accused the Trump administration of attempting to intimidate her because of her political positions.
Following Monday’s search, she issued a statement on X denouncing the investigation.
“Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” Omar wrote.
“For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns,” she added.
The congresswoman maintained that she had committed no wrongdoing and would continue performing her duties in Congress despite the investigation.
Her attorneys have also challenged the government’s actions, raising concerns about the seizure of materials from a sitting member of Congress and the possibility that investigators obtained documents protected by constitutional or legislative privileges.
The search occurred approximately three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, in which Omar is seeking reelection to Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
That timing has generated criticism because the Justice Department traditionally takes precautions to avoid overt investigative actions that could improperly influence an election.
Former federal prosecutors and legal specialists have questioned whether the timing and public discussion of the investigation are consistent with established departmental practices.
Justice Department officials have maintained that the search was legally authorized and conducted as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
President Trump, meanwhile, has denied directing the investigation.
During a Thursday interview on Newsmax’s “Finnerty”, Trump was asked about the federal inquiry involving Omar.
“She’s just a troublemaker. But I’m not involved in it. I think she’s very bad for our country,” Trump said.
His comments followed previous public criticism of Omar and questions raised by administration officials about her immigration history.
The congresswoman has been a frequent critic of Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, particularly federal operations involving Somali immigrants and other communities in Minnesota.
The investigation has also become a subject of debate among congressional Democrats, who argue that the administration has not adequately explained why the unusual search of a sitting lawmaker was necessary so close to an election.
House Democratic leaders have called for greater transparency about the legal basis for the operation and the safeguards used to protect potentially privileged congressional materials.
Federal authorities, however, have not publicly released the supporting affidavits for the search warrants or a detailed account of the evidence gathered.
The absence of those materials limits independent assessment of the allegations and the strength of the case described by Mullin.
The reported grand jury activity suggests that prosecutors are continuing to collect testimony and documents, but the investigation’s ultimate direction remains uncertain.
Mullin’s disclosure that multiple locations were searched represents a significant expansion of the publicly known scope of the inquiry. He did not identify the other locations, describe the evidence recovered or specify which individuals may be under investigation.
His statements about possible racketeering violations likewise addressed hypothetical conduct rather than announced charges.
For Omar, the investigation presents legal and political challenges as she campaigns for another term in Congress. Her representatives continue to deny wrongdoing and maintain that the federal government’s actions are politically motivated.
For investigators, the immediate task remains determining whether immigration records submitted decades ago contain evidence of criminal conduct that can support charges under federal law.
As of October 16, Omar has not been charged with a crime, and no grand jury indictment has been announced.
The next major development will depend on whether prosecutors seek formal charges, continue gathering evidence or conclude that the investigation does not support prosecution. Mullin’s assessment that authorities have developed a strong case remains a statement by the Homeland Security secretary rather than a judicial finding of wrongdoing.
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