Democrats fear "more October surprises" after Ilhan Omar raid
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Homeland Security Investigations searches the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar on Oct. 12. Photo: Andrew Leyden/Getty Images
Congressional Democrats' private text chains lit up with fear and anger on Monday after Department of Homeland Security agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-Minn.) home in Washington, D.C.
Why it matters: The search came less than a month before the midterms, immediately setting off alarm bells among Democrats that "more October surprises" could be coming, as one senior Democrat told Axios.
- Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told Axios: "We expect more of this kind of thing."
Driving the news: Homeland Security Investigations "executed a judicially authorized search warrant" on Omar's home as part of an ongoing immigration probe, the Justice Department said in a statement.
- DOJ has not detailed the scope or subject of the search warrant.
- Fox News reported the investigation concerns Omar's immigration paperwork. She came to the United States in 1995 as a 12-year-old refugee from Somalia.
- Omar's office and Democratic House leadership quickly denounced the action as an "abuse of power," with a spokesperson for Omar saying she "has done nothing wrong."
What we're hearing: "People are outraged. ... [This is] what authoritarian tyrants and dictators do," said the senior House Democrat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to relay colleagues' private conversations.
- Another House Democrat told Axios "the chatter on texts" is that "folks are irate."
Zoom out: Democrats allege the raid fits into a broader pattern of Trump using federal resources to boost Republicans and target his political opponents.
- DHS became embroiled in controversy just last week after a statement targeting Pennsylvania Democrat Janelle Stelson, which critics said violates federal laws restricting partisan activities by federal officials.
- Trump has also come under fire for using taxpayer funds to run campaign-style television ads touting him and his administration in the run-up to the midterms.
What they're saying: "President Trump will keep trying to intimidate and bully Americans ahead of the midterms," said Balint, adding, "We suspect he will try anything to stay in power and in control."
- Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) said that "of course there will" be more like the Omar raid, saying Trump is "the pettiest, worst human being" and "can't help himself."
- Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told Axios: "This is some serious hate-baiting bullshit. This administration is just despicable."
- Asked whether he expects more, Huffman said, "Of course."
The other side: One congressional Republican cheered the raid on Omar, who has long been the target of right-wing attacks on her immigration status.
- "If the fraud is proven, she should be denaturalized and deported," Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) wrote in a post on X, also comparing Monday's raid to the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago.
- The White House, DOJ and DHS did not respond to a request for comment.
What to watch: House Democratic leaders are already signaling plans to wrap this into their oversight agenda if they retake the majority.
- "We will deliver full accountability for the rogue abuse of power from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and his deputies said in a statement.
- House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said in a statement: "We will be demanding transparency and accountability as to who authorized this abusive search and who carried it out."
