Plans for political theater at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union found one congresswoman inviting anti-ICE activists, including past detainees, as she “celebrates criminals.”
Whether it be color-coordinated attire, message-bearing paddles, speech-shredding or cane-waving grandstanding, nationally televised joint addresses to Congress are treated by Democrats as opportunities for political stunts. As her state is embroiled in fraud scandals, including from her own Somali community, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) sees fit to get in on the performance with guest invites that include a woman who is the subject of a viral video for allegedly impeding ICE.
Ahead of the Tuesday night address, Fox News congressional correspondent Bill Melugin highlighted, “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) announces two guests she is bringing to President Trump’s SOTU speech tomorrow night were detained by ICE in Minnesota, including a woman seen in a viral video being pulled out of her car by federal agents after they say she blocked traffic.”
NEW: Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) announces two guests she is bringing to President Trump’s SOTU speech tomorrow night were detained by ICE in Minnesota, including a woman seen in a viral video being pulled out of her car by federal agents after they say she blocked traffic.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 23, 2026
A press release detailed Omar’s four guests include Alisya Rahman, who was removed from her vehicle and detained by ICE after she was said to have impeded their operation; activist Mary Granlund, chair of the Columbia Heights School Board, the district where five-year-old Liam Ramos was attended to by agents after his father fled federal agents; Mubashir Hussen, another ICE detainee; and Gerardo Orozco Guzman, described as the son of Eustaquio Orozco Verdusco, “a workers’ rights organizer” detained at a facility in New Mexico.
Rahman’s January 13 encounter with federal immigration officers earned her a previous invite to speak at a congressional forum, as a victimhood narrative was played up pertaining to reports of autism impacting her ability to interact with law enforcement. However, accounts that “she was simply trying to avoid a chaotic scene” were refuted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which shared video of her detainment.
“Unfortunately for the media, we have the receipts,” wrote ICE in a Feb. 6 post. “As shown in our video, Aliya Rahman clearly had enough room to move herself and her vehicle out of the way. Officers even walked away from her vehicle, thinking she was going to leave the scene. Instead, she remained at the location, continued to impede our officers, and found out the hard way. 18 U.S.C. § 111 criminalizes impeding or interfering with federal officers.”
Unfortunately for the media, we have the receipts.
As shown in our video, Aliya Rahman clearly had enough room to move herself and her vehicle out of the way. Officers even walked away from her vehicle, thinking she was going to leave the scene. Instead, she remained at the… https://t.co/1z0M4cHWbS pic.twitter.com/bin1mQGHIl
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) February 6, 2026
Other plans to protest Trump’s speech include talk of walkouts and outright boycotts, while some self-aggrandizing leftists have scheduled their own counterprogramming. MSNBC castoffs Katie Phang and Joy Reid are slated to host a “People’s State of Union” courtesy of MeidasTouch and Move On, with appearances by a slew of Democrat lawmakers like Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
Likewise, Trump-loathing Academy Award-winner Robert De Niro will be joined by characters like Mark Ruffalo, George Conway, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D), and California Rep. Eric Swalwell for a so-called “State of the Swamp” rebuttal.
As it concerns Omar, reactions on social media include suggestions like alternative guests, seating ICE agents beside those she was bringing, and affixing pictures of the victims of illegal aliens to every seat left vacant by boycotting Democrats.
I would invite and seat the ICE agents who pulled her out and arrested her.
— John Hyde (@The_DrJ3ckyll) February 23, 2026
She celebrates criminals.
— Kat (@KatManDoToo2) February 23, 2026
I say let ICE re-arrest them right out of the gallery Tuesday night on live tv. Take Omar with them.
— BioHazardx65 (@hazardx65) February 23, 2026
I look forward to seeing them escorted out for disrupting his speech… you know they will
— Sherry Smith (@WVGirlQ17) February 23, 2026
I saw someone say they should bring photos of people killed by illegal immigrants and put them in the seats Dems won’t be sitting in. I think this is a good idea.
— Ms K Ar 🇺🇸 (@JaxVirza) February 23, 2026
Theatrics. Deport her.
— MaggieinVA (@MaggieGera1221) February 23, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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