Ilhan Omar’s lawyers demand the return of property seized in house raid

What the report says

Lawyers for US Representative Ilhan Omar have asked federal authorities to return property seized during a search of her Washington, DC home, according to Al Jazeera’s report published on 17 October 2026. The request follows a Monday raid at Omar’s northeast Washington residence by Homeland Security officers and other federal agents as part of an investigation into alleged immigration fraud.

In a letter to federal prosecutors obtained by The Associated Press, Omar’s legal team said the search was unlawful, politically motivated and carried out without proper notice. They argued that investigators did not follow court instructions meant to protect the constitutional rights of a sitting member of Congress, including safeguards around legislative materials. The lawyers also said the team had not been given advance notice of the warrant and that House counsel was not contacted.

The search reportedly led to the seizure of Omar’s phone and passport, and officials have also issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including some to her relatives, according to The Washington Post as cited by Al Jazeera. Omar’s lawyers have asked for audio and video recordings of the search and for records tied to a 2019 review of her immigration history.

The Justice Department rejected the allegations, saying its attorneys and law enforcement partners complied with court orders and legal obligations. Al Jazeera noted that the timing has drawn political attention because it came shortly before November midterm elections and after President Donald Trump had publicly criticized Omar.