Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has said that one of her invited guests was forcibly removed and arrested by Capitol Police during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
Omar identified the guest as anti-ICE agitator Aliya Rahman.
However, Rahman is not an unknown bystander caught up in events inside the Capitol.
She is a far-left activist with a history of involvement in progressive political causes, including Black Lives Matter (BLM).
Rahman was invited after she engaged in a reported altercation with federal immigration agents in Minnesota during “Operation Metro Surge” in January.
Omar Alleges “Heavy-Handed” Response
In a statement, Omar said Rahman briefly stood during the president’s speech.
“My guest, Aliya Rahman, stood up silently in the gallery during the president’s speech for a short period of time, part of which other guests were also standing,” Omar said.
“For that, she was forcibly removed, despite warning officers about her injured shoulders and ultimately charged with ‘Unlawful Conduct.’”
She added, “Reports indicate she was aggressively handled until someone intervened to secure medical attention.
“She was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment and later booked at the United States Capitol Police headquarters.”
“The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy,” Omar said.
“I am calling for a full explanation of why this arrest occurred.”
Capitol Police has not responded to the claim.
The charge Omar referenced, unlawful conduct, carries a potential sentence of up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $500.
Rahman told far-left outlet Democracy Now:
“There are only two things you can do at the State of the Union, and they are sit down and stand up.
“I was arrested for standing up.”
Known Far-Left Agitator
Professionally, Rahman works as a software engineer and currently resides in Minneapolis, though she has previously lived in New York and Boston.
In addition to English, she speaks Bengali.
Rahman first drew national attention in January when she used her vehicle to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles during a protest in Minneapolis on Jan. 13.
According to reports, she refused to move the vehicle or exit voluntarily, prompting federal officers to remove her.
During the confrontation, she shouted that she was disabled and attempting to reach a doctor’s appointment, a claim that quickly circulated across sympathetic corporate media outlets.
Rahman is currently a fellow at New America’s Open Technology Institute, an organization that receives funding from major philanthropic entities, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
A biography previously published on the Institute’s website described her background as follows:
“Her work is informed by a background in legislative, electoral, and community organizing for racial and criminal justice campaigns, 15 years of software development for the social justice movement, and a former life as an educator and researcher working in public education and workforce development.”
The Hindustan Times reported that Rahman has also been involved with multiple radical leftist groups, including the Center for Community Change, Equality Ohio, and Code for Progress.
Her public social media activity reflects strong support for Black Lives Matter and pro-Hamas activism, including content aligned with the anti-Israel movement.
Rahman previously served as director of movement technology at Wellstone, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that trains progressive activists and political candidates.
In describing her work there, she boasted that one of her accomplishments was transforming the organization’s image from what she described as a “nice, white people-run organization” into one that was “mostly queer, largely immigrant and overwhelmingly femme-identified or gender nonconforming.”
According to the New York Post, Rahman has also faced prior legal issues, including charges of criminal trespassing and driving under the influence in Ohio, as well as a charge of driving without insurance in Illinois.
Background: Operation Metro Surge
Rahman’s invitation followed tensions in Minnesota tied to “Operation Metro Surge,” a federal immigration enforcement initiative led by Border Czar Tom Homan.
President Trump deployed Homan to Minneapolis last month following a series of violent and, in some cases, deadly confrontations between anti-ICE agitators and federal law enforcement.
Earlier this month, Homan announced the end of Operation Metro Surge, citing improved cooperation from local authorities.
“As a result of our efforts here, Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals,” Homan said on Feb. 12.
Homan noted that a “small footprint of personnel” would remain temporarily and that federal agents assigned to investigate agitators and fraud cases would continue their work.
“Additionally, federal government personnel assigned to conduct criminal investigations into the agitators, as well as the personnel assigned here for the fraud investigations, will remain in place until the work is done,” Homan said.
The incident inside the Capitol comes amid heightened tensions over President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.
The policies have drawn sharp opposition from progressive lawmakers like Omar and strong support from Republicans who argue that enforcement actions are restoring law and order.
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.