One of the guests invited by Ilhan Omar was arrested Tuesday evening after demonstrating during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.
Authorities identified the individual as Aliya M. Rahman, 43, of Minneapolis. She was taken into custody after standing and refusing repeated instructions from officers to sit down while seated in the House gallery during the address. In a statement, Capitol Police said that all tickets for the State of the Union clearly state that demonstrations are not permitted inside the chamber. At approximately 10:07 p.m., officers observed a person in the gallery engaging in demonstrative behavior during the speech. According to the statement, Rahman was instructed to sit down but declined to comply with lawful orders.
Police said disrupting Congress or demonstrating inside congressional buildings is prohibited under federal and local regulations. Rahman was arrested under D.C. Code §10-503.16, which covers unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress. She was later issued a citation release, a procedure authorities described as routine in similar circumstances.Rahman attended the event as one of four guests invited by Omar. The Minnesota Democrat has frequently criticized policies implemented by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has previously described Rahman as an advocate seeking accountability regarding the agency’s enforcement practices. Rahman also drew attention earlier this year after a separate encounter with federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, an incident she and her attorney have disputed.
