Federal agents searched Ilhan Omar’s discarded trash for DNA from the congresswoman and her family before raiding her Washington, D.C., home, according to sources cited by NewsNation. The Minnesota Democrat is facing an expanding federal investigation involving relatives, immigration records and searches at other locations. Investigators are gathering evidence for grand jury proceedings, while Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has described the inquiry as “a strong case.” Sources familiar with the investigation anticipate possible indictments extending beyond the allegations already circulating publicly.
Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar’s residence on October 12th, 2026, under a court-authorized warrant. The inquiry concerns potential wrongdoing involving her family’s immigration paperwork, including information submitted during their arrival in the United States and naturalization process. Omar has denied wrongdoing and accused President Donald Trump’s administration of pursuing her for political reasons.
The effort to obtain genetic material preceded the search of her home. “Multiple sources have confirmed to me that federal agents went dumpster diving to get DNA from Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and her family before that blockbuster raid on her DC home earlier this week,” NewsNation host Leland Vittert said. His sources described an investigation reaching beyond longstanding accusations about Omar’s marriage and birth year, with additional relatives under scrutiny.
Authorities also searched other locations that day, Mullin confirmed, according to CBS News. Omar has not yet been charged with a crime in the investigation. NewsNation put the operation’s scope at more than a dozen simultaneous raids extending beyond Washington. “The sources confirm the investigation involves additional family members, and will now be part of a grand jury investigation that will go long past the election,” Vittert said.
Federal agents seized Omar’s personal cellphone, and prosecutors issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to relatives, the Associated Press independently confirmed through a person briefed on the inquiry. The grand jury is collecting evidence in Minnesota. Separately, Washington U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said her office was examining Omar’s financial disclosures. “If there was a crime that was committed, it will be prosecuted,” Pirro said.
Watch the segment on the DNA collection and expanding Omar investigation here:
https://t.co/VxMfmOXhuY
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 17, 2026
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The sealed warrant listed conspiracy, false statements on immigration paperwork and immigration fraud as potential offenses, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Another source said a possible objective was revoking Omar’s citizenship and deporting her. NewsNation’s sources identified the Minneapolis Homeland Security Investigations office as the office coordinating the case. They also said portions of an investigation begun during the Biden administration and later closed had subsequently been reopened and expanded.
Omar has maintained that the administration’s actions are political. “Trump and his administration have been after me since I arrived in Congress,” she wrote in a statement quoted in the clip. “I have always stood up to him, and that will never change.” Her attorneys subsequently demanded the return of seized property, while Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said officials had complied with court orders and legal requirements, according to the Associated Press.
Mullin defended the investigation’s basis in remarks included in the segment. “I will tell you, 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,” he said. “This was about enforcing once again our nation’s laws, and it’s a strong case.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.