By P.C. Staff
Following Monday’s search of the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) by Department of Homeland Security investigators, the Japanese American Citizens League today released a statement emphasizing that the Somalia-born naturalized U.S. citizen, who has been a vocal critic of the current presidential administration’s policies, is entitled to the same constitutional and legal protections that all people in the United State are afforded.
The statement read: “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.”
Via social media, Ilhan said: “ … this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation.”
Early Oct. 12, federal agents conducted a search of Omar’s home as part of an “ongoing criminal investigation.” The reason appears to be an investigation of paperwork related to her family’s immigration history. With the midterm election taking place on Nov. 3, the search was met with condemnation, much of it having to do with Justice Department protocol regarding overt investigations of political candidates close to an election.
JACL DC Chapter Co-President John Tobe in an email to Pacific Citizen stated: “The Department of Justice (DOJ) has had a long-standing policy to abstain from overt actions related to politically sensitive matters 60 days before an election.
“Conducting this search just 22 days before the elections is another attempt by the DOJ to not only politically intimidate a member of Congress but also a continuation of this administration’s campaign to target the Somali American community. We stand against this action and ask for transparency and accountability.”
“We have seen an outpouring of support for Rep. Ilhan Omar after her home was raided on Monday,” said JACL Twin Cities President Vinicius Taguchi. “… President Trump has consistently targeted Rep. Omar over her religious and ethnic background. The Twin Cities community is home to the largest Somali diaspora in the United States, and they were some of those most acutely affected by the so-called ‘Operation Metro Surge’ earlier this year. As Japanese Americans, we must remember that there was a time when most of our community were politically vulnerable as first- and second-generation immigrants. In particular, this reminds me of the story of the late Norman Mineta, who also served as a U.S. representative but had been unjustly incarcerated at Heart Mountain exclusively due to his ethnic background during a time of rampant xenophobia.”
Omar is running for her fifth term as a congressperson representing Minnesota’s fifth congressional district.
(Note: Parts of JACL’s statement were lightly edited to adhere to AP Style conventions.)
