Politics 

An Unexpected House Call

What's going on: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been known to come down hard on President Donald Trump’s critics, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is stripping naturalized citizenship like never before. On Monday, the two departments came together for an unprecedented move: searching the home of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN). The DOJ describes the action as an “ongoing federal criminal investigation,” with DHS head Markwayne Mullin saying last month that there “may be more” to her family’s migration that includes possible “illegal activity.” A naturalized citizen since 2000, Omar and her family fled Somalia in the 1990s seeking asylum, and her late father filled out the paperwork. Though conservatives have challenged her citizenship in the past, Omar has repeatedly rebuked such claims. In a post on X, she said President Trump was attempting to “target political enemies and weaponize law enforcement.” Speaking to reporters on Monday, the president said he has “nothing to do” with the DOJ’s probe.

Tell me more: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the search “a dangerous escalation.” It’s also not the first time President Trump has targeted Omar or other politicians of color. The president has previously shared false claims questioning the citizenship of former President Barack Obama, then-Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The timing of it all is also raising questions. DOJ policy encourages prosecutors to avoid taking any action that may affect an election like “investigative steps, criminal charges, or statements.” And it’s been a longstanding practice to avoid such action 60 days before voters hit the polls. Ironically, Trump accused special counsel Jack Smith of breaking that 60-day rule while he ran for president in 2024. 

Related: How the Trump Admin Has Transformed the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division (NPR)