US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has secured a fifth term in the House of Representatives after winning re-election in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, despite an ongoing federal investigation into her immigration history.
The Democratic lawmaker defeated Republican challenger John Nagel in the November 3 midterm elections, retaining her seat representing Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs.
Omar, who has represented the district since 2019, won more than 76 per cent of the vote, according to unofficial election results.
Her victory comes weeks after federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations searched her Washington, D.C., residence on October 12 as part of a criminal investigation.
The investigation reportedly centres on immigration documents submitted on her behalf by her late father when she was a child, as well as allegations concerning her family’s immigration history.
Federal authorities have also been examining claims surrounding her immigration records. However, Omar has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with an offence in connection with the allegations.
The congresswoman has accused President Donald Trump’s administration of weaponising federal law enforcement to target political opponents, describing the investigation as politically motivated.
Omar, who was born in Somalia and arrived in the United States as a refugee, made history in 2018 when she became the first Somali-American woman elected to Congress and one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the US House of Representatives.
Her latest victory will see her return to Washington for another two-year term.
