WASHINGTON — The Japanese American Citizens League issued the following statement on Oct. 13:
“JACL stands with Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and her family after federal agents searched her D.C. home early on Oct. 12.
“Rep. Omar has been a steadfast partner and advocate for immigrants, refugees, and the protection of civil rights and liberties. Rep. Omar is entitled to the same due process and presumption of innocence guaranteed to every person in the United States, and we expect the Department of Justice to uphold these constitutional protections.
“We will watch closely to ensure this investigation is conducted fairly, transparently, and free from political interference. We will continue to stand by Rep. Omar as this investigation proceeds.”
The DOJ and Homeland Security Investigations executed a pre-dawn federal search warrant at Omar’s home in Washington, D.C. Law enforcement sources said that the search stems from a multi-year criminal fraud probe into Omar’s immigration paperwork.
Omar, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia, condemned the operation as an act of “political intimidation” and an “attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” and vowed that she “will not be silenced.”
President Trump denied having direct involvement in ordering the raid but said that Omar is “a terrible person” and “totally crooked.” He has a long history of condemning Omar — a member of a progressive faction of women in Congress known as “The Squad” — and saying that she should go back to where she came from.