Democrats fear "more October surprises" after "bullshit" raid on Ilhan Omar's home

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.