Ilhan Omar’s Guest Arrested at State of the Union Address

A guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) was arrested during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday for standing during the speech. Omar stated on X that her guest—Aliya Rahman, a U.S. Citizen with disabilities—”stood up silently in the gallery during the president’s speech for a short period of time” and was “forcibly removed” from the House chamber and ultimately charged with ‘Unlawful Conduct.’

Details of the Arrest

U.S. Capitol Police confirmed that a guest in the House gallery “started demonstrating” around 10:07 p.m. Rahman was asked to sit down but “refused to obey our lawful orders,” according to a police statement. The police stated that it is illegal to disrupt Congress and demonstrate in the congressional buildings. The Guardian reported that Rahman was arrested for unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $500.

Rahman’s Background and Previous Incident

Aliya Rahman, 43, is a Bangladeshi-American software engineer and a resident of Minneapolis with autism and a traumatic brain injury. She gained attention earlier this year after a video went viral showing federal agents forcibly removing her from her car during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis in January. NBC News reported that Rahman was on her way to a medical appointment when she was dragged from the vehicle by federal agents.

During the January incident, Rahman told the agents, “I’m disabled, trying to go to the doctor up there. That’s why I didn’t move.” She later stated that the officers caused her shoulder injuries. The Department of Homeland Security described Rahman as an “agitator” who “ignored multiple commands by an officer to move her vehicle away from the scene” and was arrested for obstruction.

Omar’s Response and Concerns

Rep. Omar condemned the arrest, stating that Capitol Police “aggressively handled” Rahman, forcing her to seek medical care at George Washington University Hospital. NBC News reported that Rahman was hospitalized until just before 4 a.m. Omar described the response to a “peaceful guest” as “heavy-handed” and said it “sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy.” She also demanded an investigation into the arrest. The Washington Post reported on Omar’s call for an investigation.

Rahman’s Account

Speaking to Democracy Now!, Rahman said she was arrested for “standing up silently” and that officers only stopped pulling on her shoulders when a sergeant-at-arms intervened. She also noted she has a torn rotator cuff tendon and multiple cartilage tears in both shoulders. The Guardian reported on Rahman’s account of the arrest.

Previous Disruptions at State of the Union Addresses

Disruptions during State of the Union addresses are not uncommon. Democrats have protested during previous speeches by President Trump, including Rep. Al Green of Texas, who was also escorted out of the chamber. Omar herself shouted “liar” during Trump’s speech when he discussed alleged corruption in the Somali migrant community in Minnesota and yelled, “You’ve killed Americans!” when Trump spoke about illegal immigration.

Rahman was released early Wednesday morning and, according to Omar, is “back and safe.”