Ilhan Omar Fundraises Off Trump Administration Investigation Into Immigration Papers
The congresswoman's campaign sent out an email asking for donations to fight a probe into her childhood records, calling it a 'partisan investigation' and an 'abuse of power.'
Representative Ilhan Omar has turned a federal investigation into her immigration paperwork into a fundraising appeal, urging supporters to donate to her campaign as she contests what her team calls a "ludicrous, partisan investigation." The Somali-born congresswoman's home was reportedly raided by Homeland Security Investigations on Tuesday, amid an ongoing probe by the Justice Department.
An email sent by Omar's campaign asked supporters to contribute, with donations starting at $10, stating, "We have an obligation to fight back against this ludicrous, partisan investigation, and show that we will not let Trump's abuse of power go unchecked." The message continued, "We have to be ready for anything that comes our way, and every dollar we can raise goes a long way. Thank you."
The investigation is reportedly focused on immigration paperwork dating back to Omar's childhood, which was completed by her late father. Former President Donald Trump has previously accused Omar of marrying her brother to obtain U.S. citizenship, an allegation she has denied and that has never been substantiated.
Omar responded to the news on X, stating, "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. I will not be silenced."
Her campaign has raised $5.83 million for the 2026 election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission records from January 1, 2025, through July 22. The campaign has not yet released figures on funds raised since the raid.
The search of Omar's home prompted backlash from Democratic colleagues, who accused the Trump administration of weaponizing federal law enforcement against a prominent critic just weeks before an election. New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounced the search as an "unacceptable abuse of power" and pledged her support to Omar. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has also faced Justice Department investigations, accused Trump of misusing his power against political opponents. Representatives Ro Khanna and Hakeem Jeffries, along with House Democratic leaders Peter Aguilar, also condemned the operation and sought answers from the Justice and Homeland Security departments.
On Monday night, supporters gathered at an event in Minneapolis, organized by the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, titled "Stand with Ilhan."
Trump, speaking at a rally in Ohio on Monday, denied any involvement in the FBI search, calling Omar "a disaster" and "totally crooked personally," while asserting the investigation was a matter for the Justice Department.