Rep. Ilhan Omar invites constituents ‘traumatized’ by Minnesota ICE raids to State of the Union 2026
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar invited four Minnesota residents to attend President Trump’s State of the Union address, aiming to highlight the impact of federal immigration enforcement actions in her state.
Among the invitees is Bangladeshi-American software engineer Aliya Rahman, who was removed from her vehicle on Jan. 13 while en route to a medical appointment. Omar also invited Mary Granlund, chair of the Columbia Heights School Board; 20-year-old Mubashir Hussen; and Hussen’s father, workers’ rights organizer Eustaquio Orozco Verdusco.
In a post on X introducing her guests, Omar wrote that she wanted to draw attention to what she described as the consequences of federal immigration operations in Minnesota. She said her constituents have stories about “how ICE continues to traumatize our state,” adding that although “Operation Metro Surge” has ended, its effects on local communities persist.
President Trump’s border adviser Tom Homan recently announced the conclusion of the two-month immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, calling it successful while noting that a limited federal presence would remain for a short period.
The administration ordered the Minnesota operation late last year following a large-scale welfare fraud investigation that drew national attention, much of it centered on the Somali-American community in the Twin Cities. Omar, who represents Minnesota, is the first Somali-American elected to Congress.
About Post Author
