Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is calling for a “full explanation” after her invited guest was removed and later arrested during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night.
Omar’s guest, Aliya Rahman, a U.S. citizen, had previously made headlines in January after a confrontation with federal immigration agents in Minnesota during the administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown. Rahman said she was forcibly pulled from her car while on her way to a doctor’s appointment after encountering a traffic jam. According to Rahman, agents gave her conflicting commands before dragging her from the vehicle. Video of the incident circulated widely online and sparked backlash.
Rahman attended the State of the Union as Omar’s guest but told Democracy Now! on Wednesday that she was removed from the House chamber during the president’s speech. Rahman said the Sergeant-at-Arms informed her that she was being escorted out “because I was standing up silently — no buttons, no facial expressions, no gestures, no signs, not one sound. Standing up.”
She added that following her removal from the chamber, she was hospitalized. According to Omar’s office, Rahman was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment and later booked at United States Capitol Police headquarters.
Omar expressed outrage over the incident in a public statement, describing the handling of her guest as excessive. “Reports indicate she was aggressively handled until someone intervened to secure medical attention,” the congresswoman said. Omar labeled the removal “heavy-handed” and demanded clarity from authorities about why the arrest occurred.
The disruption unfolded during President Trump’s address, in which he spoke forcefully about immigration and criticized what he described as the impact of “illegal aliens” on the country. The speech was marked by visible tensions in the chamber, with several Democratic lawmakers signaling their opposition.
Omar herself did not remain for the full address, though she left voluntarily. She and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., were seen heckling the president during portions of his remarks on immigration policy.
The president addressed the incident the following day. On Wednesday, Trump said that Omar and Tlaib — both U.S. citizens — should be sent “back from where they came,” escalating the rhetoric surrounding the confrontation.
The removal of Rahman from the chamber has now become a flashpoint in the broader political battle over immigration enforcement and decorum during high-profile congressional events. Omar has indicated she expects further details from Capitol authorities regarding the circumstances of her guest’s arrest and hospitalization.
As questions swirl about the chain of events inside the House chamber, the incident adds yet another layer of tension to an already deeply divided political environment, particularly surrounding the administration’s immigration policies and the conduct of lawmakers and guests during official proceedings.
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