U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents pulled over her son and asked him to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. The incident has intensified the national debate over immigration enforcement, racial profiling, and how Somali Americans are being treated in Minnesota.
Omar, a Democrat who was born in Somalia and later became a U.S. citizen, shared the details during an interview on Sunday with WCCO, a CBS affiliate in Minnesota. Her remarks came just days after she announced two congressional inquiries into ICE’s immigration crackdown in the state.
ICE Stop of Ilhan Omar’s Son Sparks Racial Profiling Fears
Rep. Ilhan Omar said ICE agents stopped her son after he visited a Target store and asked him to prove that he was legally in the United States. Omar said the agents pulled him over and questioned his citizenship status.
According to Omar, her son showed the agents his U.S. passport as identification. After reviewing the document, the ICE agents let him go. She confirmed that they did not arrest or detain him beyond the brief stop.
“Yesterday, after he made a stop at Target, ICE agents pulled him over,” Omar said. “Once he produced his passport ID, they let him go.”
Although the encounter ended without further action, Omar said the stop itself caused concern. She said agents asked him to prove his citizenship based on his appearance, which she described as a serious example of racial profiling. In her view, immigration officers often target people who look Somali.
Omar said she constantly worries about her son’s safety and noted that ICE often operates in everyday places such as shopping centers. She also said ICE agents previously entered a mosque while her son was praying, which made her uncomfortable, even though they took no action.
Omar said these practices put law-abiding citizens at risk of being questioned simply because of how they look.
Immigration Crackdown and Ilhan Omar’s Congressional Inquiries
The incident involving Omar’s son comes amid a broader immigration enforcement push in Minnesota. According to Omar, ICE has been targeting undocumented Somalis in the state, creating fear across the wider Somali American community.
Minnesota is home to one of the largest Somali populations in the United States. Many families have lived there for years and include U.S. citizens, legal residents, and refugees. Community leaders have long expressed concern that aggressive enforcement tactics can affect everyone, not just undocumented individuals.
Last week, Omar announced that she had opened two congressional inquiries into ICE’s actions in Minnesota. These inquiries are meant to examine how immigration laws are being enforced and whether those actions respect civil rights.
Omar said her concerns increased after President Donald Trump made strong remarks about immigrants. Trump has previously used harsh language about Omar and about Somalis in general, comments that she believes have encouraged tougher enforcement and negative attitudes.
Omar, who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee before becoming a citizen, said her own life story shapes her views on immigration. She has often spoken about the fear and uncertainty immigrant families experience, especially during periods of heightened enforcement.
She emphasized that her criticism is not about opposing the law itself, but about how the law is applied. According to Omar, enforcement should not result in citizens being stopped and questioned simply because of their ethnicity.
White House Defends ICE as Criticism Grows
The White House has strongly rejected claims that ICE engages in racial profiling. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued a statement defending ICE agents and their conduct.
In the statement, Jackson said ICE officers are facing an increase in assaults. She blamed what she described as “untrue smears” by elected Democrats for creating hostility toward law enforcement.
“ICE officers act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities with the utmost professionalism,” Jackson said in the emailed statement.
Jackson added that those who criticize ICE should focus on criminal activity rather than blaming officers who are carrying out their duties. Her statement did not directly address the specific claims made by Omar about her son’s stop.
Representatives for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. As of Sunday evening, there was no official response confirming or disputing Omar’s account.
The incident has drawn national attention because it involves a sitting member of Congress and her family. While no physical harm was reported, Omar said the emotional toll and fear created by such encounters should not be ignored.
The debate continues as lawmakers, civil rights advocates, and government officials argue over immigration enforcement, public safety, and the protection of constitutional rights for all Americans.