In a recent development, Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar alleged that her son was stopped by U.
S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Saturday evening.
However, upon presenting proof of his citizenship, he was allowed to proceed, according to Omar.
As reported by the Western Journal, the incident occurred amidst escalating tensions in Minnesota, particularly concerning the state's Somali immigrant population. This follows the exposure of a significant welfare fraud scandal in December.
Omar, during her appearance on WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy, stated that her 20-year-old son was pulled over by ICE agents after a visit to Target. "But yesterday after he made a stop at a Target, he did get pulled over by ICE agents and once he was able to produce his passport ID, they did let him go, Omar said.
When Murphy inquired whether Omar's son had entered Target with his passport on Saturday evening, Omar confirmed that he always carries it with him. "In case he gets pulled over? Murphy asked. "Yes, Omar responded. ICE has yet to respond to these allegations.
In the same interview, Murphy questioned Omar about her concerns regarding ICE raids in Minneapolis, particularly in relation to a restaurant her son frequents. "It was last Friday and, you know, typically my son goes to Friday prayers with his friends and then they all go and eat at their favorite restaurant in Cedar Riverside. I knew I saw videos earlier in the day from Representative Mahmoud Noor and others that there were the ICE agents were in Cedar, Omar said.
Omar expressed her worry about her son's safety, given the areas targeted by ICE. "And they are racially profiling. They are looking for young men who look Somali that they think are undocumented. My son was born here so it was the young man that they harassed and he did say they did come into the masjid [Muslim house of worship] while he was there praying. They didnt do anything.
This incident comes in the wake of accusations against Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz by employees of the states Department of Human Services. They claim that Walz is responsible for the depletion of local social services programs, alleging that he ignored whistleblowers claims of $1 billion in funds being funneled through fraudulent operations.
ICE operations in Minneapolis, also known as the Twin Cities, were confirmed to be in progress on Dec. 9 by CBS News. The outlet reported that hundreds of people were expected to be targeted in these operations.
The incident involving Omar's son underscores the heightened scrutiny and tension surrounding Minnesota's immigrant population, particularly those of Somali descent. It also raises questions about the extent of ICE's operations and the potential for racial profiling. As the situation continues to unfold, the impact on local communities and the broader implications for immigration policy remain to be seen.
Login