WASHINGTON – A Minnesota woman invited as a guest to the State of the Union address by Rep. Ilhan Omar was arrested Tuesday for silently standing during President Donald Trump’s speech, prompting criticism from Omar and raising questions about acceptable forms of protest within the Capitol.
Aliya Rahman, a constituent of Omar’s, was taken into custody by U.S. Capitol Police after she stood during the portion of Trump’s address focused on funding for the Department of Homeland Security. According to Rahman, she remained silent and made no gestures, simply standing in protest.
“I was not just removed and arrested. I was arrested so physically that two other attendees upstairs attempted to intervene in officers pulling on my shoulders after I told them I have a torn rotator cuff tendon and multiple cartilage tears in both of my shoulders,” Rahman said in an interview with Democracy Now!. She stated the House sergeant-at-arms informed her she was arrested for “standing up. Silently.”
Capitol Police confirmed the arrest, stating Rahman was charged with unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress. “All State of the Union tickets clearly explain that demonstrating is prohibited,” the department said in a statement. “The guest was told to sit down, but refused to obey our lawful orders. It is illegal to disrupt the Congress and demonstrate in the Congressional Buildings.”
Omar sharply criticized the arrest, calling for a “full explanation of why this arrest occurred.” “The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy,” she said in a statement.
Rahman received hospital treatment following her arrest, remaining in custody until just before 4 a.m., and was later booked at Capitol Police headquarters. Omar’s office described Rahman as a disabled person with autism and a traumatic brain injury.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions surrounding immigration policy and enforcement. Minneapolis has been a focal point of increased federal immigration enforcement efforts in recent months, part of the administration’s “Operation Metro Surge.” During this operation, federal agents fatally shot Americans Renee Good and Alex Pretti, sparking outrage and calls for reform. Democrats in Congress have demanded changes to the Department of Homeland Security’s tactics, even refusing to vote on a funding bill that would keep the department operating, leading to a partial government shutdown.
Rahman also revealed she was previously injured by federal agents in Minneapolis last month while attempting to reach a doctor’s appointment, sustaining a torn rotator cuff and cartilage tears after being forcibly removed from her car near an anti-immigration protest.
