If members of the progressive wing of the Democrat Party are known for anything, it's doing whatever they can to change the subject from the very problems they have caused, or whatever bad personal situation they happen to find themselves in. We saw just the latest example of that earlier, when Rep. Ilhan Oman (D-MN-05) tried the "we're just here to provide oversight" thing at the Minneapolis ICE facility on Saturday morning in the midst of lefty protesters.
The way this was filmed, it appears to be a stand-off at high noon from a Western movie:
Happening NOW: US Reps Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig are attempting to enter Whipple Fed Building- met with federal agents on other side. @wcco pic.twitter.com/3eIWxiLaW7
— Adam Duxter (@AdamDuxter) January 10, 2026
That was followed by an impromptu press conference, which of course was the whole point of the kabuki theater act in the first place. During her p.r. stunt for the cameras, she claimed U.S. citizens are being "disappeared" by ICE agents off the streets:
"When people are disappeared in the darkness, American democracy dies," Rep. Omar said. "It is really important for every single person in this country to understand, that they are not onlt disappearing people who have commited crimes, who are in this country undocumented."
"They are disappearing U.S. citizens," she continued," they are disappearing people who have proper documentation - sometimes telling them that their documentations [sic] are wrong - keeping them for days upon days!"
🔥🚨 BREAKING: Ilhan Omar incites more violence towards ICE, saying they are "DISAPPEARING US CITIZENS."
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) January 10, 2026
"When people are disappeared in the darkness, American democracy dies."
"They are disappearing U.S. citizens, they are disappearing people who have proper documentation!" pic.twitter.com/YNqgIgYTgx
Although I don't recommend it, you can watch the full, nearly 11-minute presser here.
So, how exactly did this play out? At first, officials at the facility let her in, Omar said, but that didn't last long.
House Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and other congressional representatives were denied access to the Twin Cities ICE headquarters when they showed up for an oversight visit on Saturday.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 10, 2026
"Shortly after we were let in, two officials came in and said that they received a message that we… pic.twitter.com/M19ElanLT5
"Shortly after we were let in, two officials came in and said that they received a message that we were no longer allowed to be in the building, and that they were rescinding our invitation," Omar said. "What happened today is a blatant attempt to obstruct members of Congress from doing their oversight duties."
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin quickly responded in a statement, as CBS News reported, reminding Omar and her compatriots that you can't just show up unannounced at federal facilities.
[T]he representatives "must follow the proper guidelines" if they want to tour the facility and that they didn't notify ICE "at least seven days in advance."
Ilhan Omar squares off against feds, joins Minneapolis protesters after being kicked out ICE facility https://t.co/md01HFFS18 pic.twitter.com/SPCEJ6gTvC
— New York Post (@nypost) January 10, 2026
Once she was kicked out of the ICE facility, Omar also joined the protest, making an inflammatory, anti-ICE speech to rally the "resistance," calling President Trump "a tyrant."
🚨🚨ILHAN OMAR JOINS MINNEAPOLIS PROTEST pic.twitter.com/l5PiTDQnCF
— Cam Higby 🇺🇸 (@camhigby) January 10, 2026
This is unsurprising stuff, especially from Omar, who recently accused ICE of racially profiling her son during a traffic stop. But it's possible there's more to it. Could it be that she wants to change the subject after Republicans stripped a shady earmark that she slipped into a spending bill on Friday, and just days after Congress subpoenaed the congresswoman and her brother/husband over "serious questions" on potential criminal behavior and allegations of fraud?
We are moving to subpoena Rep. Ilhan Omar and her brother/husband’s immigration records.
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) January 7, 2026
The facts raise serious questions about potential federal marriage fraud, incest, polygamy, and tax fraud.
The public deserves full transparency. If true, Ilhan Omar must be denaturalized… pic.twitter.com/2vdT2WDXoF
Joining Omar were two other MN representatives, Reps. Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03) and Angie Craig (D-MN-02), the latter of whom our sister site colleague, David Strom at Hot Air, reminds us is running in his state for U.S. Senate. Maybe she's looking for some free coverage/more cred of her own, as he writes:
She is looking to get more progressive cred as she is running against our radical Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who has called for protesters to "put their bodies on the line."
Makes you think, in any case. Stay tuned!
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