House Democratic leaders erupted after federal agents executed a judge-approved search warrant at Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington home in an investigation reportedly nicknamed “World War 11.” Homeland Security Investigations agents searched the Minnesota Democrat’s residence before dawn on Monday, October 12th, as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. Photographs showed agents carrying boxes from the property, including boxes labeled “Seized Property Evidence.”
The investigation reportedly concerns possible false statements and immigration fraud connected to immigration paperwork completed by Omar’s late father when she was a child. HSI, the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, is leading the inquiry. The Justice Department is assisting with the investigation. Border czar Tom Homan publicly confirmed in September that Omar was the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, although he didn’t disclose its details at the time.
The reported nickname is a reference to Omar’s viral verbal fumble during a January 22nd, 2025, press conference about the Alien Enemies Act. Reading from prepared remarks, Omar said the law had been used to detain and deport German, Japanese, and Italian immigrants during “World War eleven.” She corrected herself with, “Oh, two, sorry.” The clip later spread widely online and drew jokes from President Donald Trump.
A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed that the search was authorized by a court. “Today in the Washington, D.C., area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice,” the spokesperson said, according to Breitbart News. “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal investigation.” Breitbart, citing The Washington Post, reported that federal investigators were calling the case “World War 11.”
A judicially authorized search warrant requires investigators to submit sworn information establishing probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime will be found in the place to be searched. That finding doesn’t establish guilt on its own, but it means the search was subjected to judicial review before agents entered Omar’s home and a judge decided there was enough evidence to move forward with a search. Associated Press photographs showed Homeland Security officers removing boxes from Omar’s residence. At least one visible box was labeled “Seized Property Evidence.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement on October 12. They described the search as corrupt political weaponization by the federal government. “The Trump administration’s raid on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s home is deeply disturbing and raises serious questions about the continued corrupt weaponization of the federal government against Donald Trump’s adversaries,” they said in the statement quoted by Breitbart News. Their statement presented no evidence that Trump ordered the search and didn’t address the probable-cause determination behind the warrant.
Watch the gaffe that inspired the investigation’s nickname here:
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The Democratic leaders escalated their rhetoric by calling federal immigration authorities a “violent mass deportation machine.” They said, “Now, less than 30 days until the midterm election, his violent mass deportation machine has descended upon the home of a duly elected Member of Congress and her family.” The statement described the investigation as a “rogue abuse of power” while offering no explanation for the court-authorized warrant or the materials agents carried away. Jeffries, Clark, and Aguilar promised to deliver “full accountability” for what they called a “rogue abuse of power” by DHS and DOJ.
Omar’s office issued a similar denial, insisting that the congresswoman had “done nothing wrong” and calling the search a “pointless federal raid.” Omar then accused the administration of running a campaign of political intimidation against her, writing, “Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.” Trump denied directing the search when questioned by reporters after the operation. “I think she’s a terrible person, but that’s really up to the DOJ,” he said. “I have nothing to do with it.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.