An attention-seeking stunt by Minnesota Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig was spoiled when they showed up at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility for a visit to “support” illegal alien detainees, only to find them already gone.
The dynamic duo dropped by the Whipple Federal Building on Friday around noon for their public relations appearance, only to discover that the building’s guests had been moved out for the next stage of the deportation experience shortly before their arrival.
“Every cell, every inch of it was completely empty,” the Somali-born “Squad” member said in dismay.
I went to the ICE processing center at the Whipple building today to conduct congressional oversight. ICE is demanding 7-day advance notice to sanitize facilities that we know have violated human and civil rights.
This blatant attempt at a cover-up undercuts the very purpose of… pic.twitter.com/NFgnLPQhz0
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) February 20, 2026
“I went to the ICE processing center at the Whipple building today to conduct congressional oversight. ICE is demanding 7-day advance notice to sanitize facilities that we know have violated human and civil rights,” Omar complained in a Friday evening post to X after the fruitless visit. “This blatant attempt at a cover-up undercuts the very purpose of our visit.”
“It seems very convenient that they removed anyone who had been arrested today from the facility 30 minutes before we arrived at the facility,” said Craig, insinuating that something sinister was afoot. “What we saw today was an incredibly clean facility. It was a facility without a single individual being held in it.”
The flustered pair were ridiculed by X users who found it very amusing that ICE “pulled a rope a dope” on them, with some disappointed that ICE didn’t wait so they could include Omar with the others.
🔥🚨 LMAO! Rep. Ilhan Omar reveals they went to see illegal alien detainees in Minnesota who were conventionally DEPORTED before they got there!
ICE pulled a rope a dope on them! 😂 pic.twitter.com/ktdB4ZzU4c
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) February 20, 2026
Are you looking for more voters there?
— Paturious Wilhelm Grey (@paturious) February 20, 2026
You know who they don’t go to see? The parents of the dead children massacred by illegals.
They don’t visit the people in hospitals who were assaulted by illegals.
They don’t care. It’s all about the illegals voting.#PassTheSaveAct https://t.co/QUgKS2xFtB— Trump is Our President (@JFleckenAlvarez) February 20, 2026
ICE should have waited and sent Omar with them…
— C.R. Kiser (@ckiser40) February 20, 2026
Hahahahaha
— Laura Raymond (@llauraraymond) February 21, 2026
I don’t know what they’re complaining about. It sounds like they’re running an extremely efficient operation there!
— Jesse (@JesseO007) February 20, 2026
How did ICE miss # 1 crook in Minnesota OMAR. She should be teaching Finance 103 at University of Minnesota on how to grow your wealth from 30 k to 30 million in 2-3 years. Better yet , A course in Day Care Center Management ( oh Fraud )
— no one (@Totalpackage56) February 20, 2026
Too bad they didn’t save a seat for Omar.
— bill butler (@bill_butle35403) February 21, 2026
I would have loved ICE to grab her for the next flight out!
— Redmap (@francieaffirms) February 20, 2026
Craig also complained about the requirement for lawmakers to provide notice before visits.
After three attempts to conduct my congressional oversight duties — I was finally allowed access to the Whipple Building.
But when I got inside — the last detainee was conveniently relocated 30 minutes earlier.
Requiring members to give a weeks’ notice to visit is illegal and… pic.twitter.com/e6iEodbmE9
— Angie Craig (@AngieCraigMN) February 21, 2026
“After three attempts to conduct my congressional oversight duties — I was finally allowed access to the Whipple Building,” the congresswoman whined. “But when I got inside — the last detainee was conveniently relocated 30 minutes earlier.”
“Requiring members to give a weeks’ notice to visit is illegal and significantly impacts our ability to do our job,” Craig added while not admitting that staging anti-ICE PR stunts is now apparently seen by some House Democrats as part of their job.
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