Who?
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
LISTEN: Laslo & Omar
Ask a Pol asks:
Is ICE escalating tactics in Minnesota?
Key Omar:
“They are. They are. I mean, “occupation,” I think, is a light word. It’s terror at this point,” Rep. Ilhan Omar exclusively told Ask a Pol Politics.
Do you think it’s because of fmr. VP candidate, Gov. Tim Walz or is it the Somali community? Or both?
“They have a desperate need to show that they are able to do something there,” Omar said. “Obviously, the Somalis are not in the crossfire of this, because nearly 60% of Somalis in Minnesota are US-born. Almost 99% of us are citizens, so when they couldn’t find Somalis, I think, they’re taking their anger out on the Latino and Asian community. And it is, like I said, it’s pure terror…”
“Their mission has been to occupy, to terrorize & to intimidate communities.”
Caught our ear:
“Real accountability means that they follow what the laws of this country are, and they are moving the goal posts every single minute,” Omar said. “They have authorized for ICE agents to go into people’s homes, violating the Fourth Amendment without a judicial warrant. I mean, we cannot live with federal agents that are deputized by our government constantly violating the Constitution.”
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Ilhan Omar (1-22-2026)
SCENE: As Rep. Ilhan Omar and an aide were walking through the Capitol last Thursday, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo asked her about Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Minnesota and escalating ICE enforcement operations back home.
Matt Laslo: “What do you make of Mr. Vance going to Minnesota?”
Rep. Ilhan Omar: “Well, we don’t want him there.”
Laslo: “Yeah? Are you worried though that this is going to toss gasoline on an already burning fire?”
Omar: “Minnesotans have been very level-headed in their approach. They understand the stakes, and they are not taking the bait in escalating this in any kind of way that would jeopardize the safety of their neighbors.”
Laslo: “Are you worried about them escalating though? Taking a five-year-old as a bargaining chip, it seems?”
Omar: “It’s one of the most horrifying stories to come out of Minnesota. You know, to have this child be used in a way to coerce the mother to come out is really terrifying. And we’ve heard that they took him and his father to San Antonio before they take them to a more permanent place…”
Laslo: “Does that show that they are escalating tactics in Minnesota?”
Omar: “They are. They are.”
Laslo: “Yeah?”
Omar: “I mean, “occupation,” I think, is a light word. It’s terror at this point.”
Laslo: “Do you think it’s because of Gov. Walz or is it the Somali community? Or both?”
Omar: “I think they have a desperate need to show that they are able to do something there. Obviously, the Somalis are not in the crossfire of this, because nearly 60% of Somalis in Minnesota are US-born. Almost 99% of us are citizens, so when they couldn’t find Somalis, I think, they’re taking their anger out on the Latino and Asian community. And it is, like I said, it’s pure terror…”
Other congressional reporters then join Laslo and Omar,
so the rest of the transcript is rough.
Reporter I: DHS funding — what’s the alternative? What happens if Democrats block it, do we run another continuing resolution or a partial shutdown?
Omar: “The alternative is finding a way to pass legislation that reins in the terror that ICE and Border Patrol is causing in our communities. They have no business being in American cities. Their mission has been to occupy, to terrorize and to intimidate communities. I have businesses that are reporting severe losses. It is unjustifiable to shoot an American citizen in the face, to have masked men jumping out of unmarked cars asking American citizens for their papers, and it’s not just happening in Minneapolis, it’s happening across Minnesota. We cannot normalize this terror that our communities are feeling, and we have to take a stand.”
Reporter II: “Congresswoman, do you think the DHS appropriations bill has enough accountability mechanisms in it for ICE?”
Omar: “Oh no, it’s a joke. Real accountability means that they follow the laws of this country are, and they are moving the goal posts every single minute. They have authorized for ICE agents to go into people’s homes, violating the Fourth Amendment without a judicial warrant. I mean, we cannot live with federal agents that are deputized by our government constantly violating the Constitution.”
Reporter III: “Can you address the…?”
Omar aide: “We got to get you in to votes, Congresswoman.”
The Congresswoman heads to the House floor to vote.
Reporter: “Thank you so much.”
Laslo: “Thank you!”
What should we ask Congress next?
AI Disclosure:
Ask a Pol’s playing around with as many new AI tools as we can, so this small, unfunded startup can compete in today’s new media landscape.
