One of Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar’s invited guests to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in Washington D.C. was arrested Tuesday night after what authorities described as a disruption inside the House chamber.
U.S. Capitol Police confirmed that Aliya Rahman, a disabled U.S. citizen from Minnesota, was taken into custody around 10:07 p.m. after she “started demonstrating” during the president’s speech. Officers said she was instructed to sit down but refused to comply with what they called lawful orders. Rahman was later issued a citation and released, which police described as routine.
Rahman’s attorney, Alexa Van Brunt, director of the MacArthur Justice Center, disputed that account. In a statement to Newsweek, she said Rahman was targeted after “simply standing in silence” during the address. Van Brunt characterized the arrest as a “blatant abuse of power.”
Earlier in the week, Omar’s office had announced Rahman as one of four Minnesotans invited to attend the speech. The Democratic lawmaker said her guests represented people directly affected by federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. In a news release, Omar’s office said Rahman was calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to “face legal accountability for their aggression against civilians.”
Rahman, a Bangladeshi American software engineer, gained national attention in January after video showed her being pulled from her car and detained by immigration officers in Minneapolis while on her way to a medical appointment. She later told Newsweek that she informed agents she was disabled but was dragged from her vehicle anyway. Rahman said she was denied medical care while in custody and was taken to the hospital only after losing consciousness.
The Department of Homeland Security offered a different version, describing Rahman as an agitator who ignored repeated commands to move her vehicle away from the scene.
Her case unfolded amid heightened tensions in Minnesota tied to federal immigration operations. In late January, two U.S. citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot in separate incidents involving federal agents in Minneapolis. Critics have accused immigration authorities of using excessive force and disregarding constitutional protections, while federal officials have defended their conduct.
Rahman testified earlier this month before lawmakers at a congressional forum examining ICE’s actions. In an interview with MS Now alongside Omar, she explained why she chose to attend the State of the Union.
“I almost don’t feel like it was a choice,” Rahman said. “I’m just so painfully aware that what happened to me is a very common experience in this country, except for the part where I got out and I got to come back to my community.”
She added that the emotional weight of her experience made it important for her to be present, even among people who might approve of how she was treated.
Following her arrest Tuesday, Omar released a statement calling for a full explanation. The congresswoman said Rahman stood silently in the gallery for a short period, at times when other guests were also standing. Despite warning officers about her injured shoulders, Omar said, Rahman was forcibly removed and charged with “Unlawful Conduct.”
“My guest, Aliya Rahman, stood up silently in the gallery during the president’s speech for a short period of time, part of which other guests were also standing. For that, she was forcibly removed, despite warning officers about her injured shoulders and ultimately charged with ‘Unlawful Conduct.’
“Reports indicate she was aggressively handled until someone intervened to secure medical attention. She was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment and later booked at the United States Capitol Police headquarters.
“The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy. I am calling for a full explanation of why this arrest occurred.”
Capitol Police have not publicly detailed what specific conduct led to the charge beyond stating that Rahman refused to sit when instructed. The incident added another flashpoint to an already contentious debate over immigration enforcement and protest inside the halls of Congress.
