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 United States 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 president’s address. In a statement, Capitol Police said that all State of the Union tickets clearly indicate that demonstrations are not permitted inside the chamber. Officers reported observing a person in the gallery engaging in demonstrative behavior during the speech at approximately 10:07 p.m. According to the statement, Rahman was instructed multiple times to sit down but declined to comply with lawful orders issued by officers.
Police noted that federal and local regulations prohibit disrupting Congress or staging demonstrations within congressional buildings. Rahman was arrested under D.C. Code §10-503.16, which addresses unlawful conduct and disruptions involving congressional proceedings. Authorities later issued her a citation release, a procedure Capitol Police described as routine in cases involving similar nonviolent disruptions. Rahman attended the address as one of four guests invited by Omar. The Minnesota lawmaker has frequently criticized policies implemented by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has previously described Rahman as an advocate seeking greater accountability for the agency’s enforcement practices. Rahman also attracted public attention earlier this year following a separate encounter with federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. Details surrounding that incident remain disputed, with Rahman and her attorney challenging the circumstances described by authorities.
