Rep. Ilhan Omar Intensifies Criticism of Federal Immigration Enforcement
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has intensified her attacks on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, accusing federal officers of overreach in Minneapolis and calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment — comments that have fueled growing political tensions over border security and federal authority.
Omar Escalates Rhetoric Against Trump Administration
Speaking to constituents on Monday, Omar described federal immigration operations in Minneapolis as excessive and claimed the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has created fear within local communities. She went so far as to claim the city is “currently under occupation,” arguing that increased federal law enforcement activity has disrupted schools, hospitals, and daily life.
“We do not exaggerate when we say we have schools where two-thirds of the students are afraid to go to school,” Omar said. “We do not exaggerate when we say we have people who are afraid to go to the hospital because our hospitals have occupying paramilitary forces.”
Her remarks included renewed demands that Secretary Kristi Noem step down immediately, along with pointed criticism of senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, whom Omar blamed for shaping President Donald J. Trump’s immigration policies.
“When we say it is time for Kristi Noem to go, we mean it now,” Omar added. “And there needs to be accountability for the architect of the terror we are facing in Minneapolis and so many other cities, which is Stephen Miller.”
Omar also reiterated controversial statements from a recent MSNBC interview, where she called Miller a “copycat of the Nazis” and suggested legal action should be pursued against him — rhetoric critics argue reflects an increasingly extreme tone from some Democrats on immigration enforcement.
Operation Metro Surge Sparks Political Battle
The dispute comes amid Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative aimed at locating and apprehending illegal immigrants with criminal convictions. The operation has drawn protests from progressive activists and local officials but has been defended by Trump administration leaders as a necessary measure to restore law and order and protect American communities.
Omar referenced two recent fatalities — Alex Pretti and Renee Good — during federal enforcement operations, using the incidents to argue for leadership changes at the Department of Homeland Security. Federal officials, however, maintain that enforcement agents are carrying out lawful duties under congressional authority.
As debate intensified, congressional Democrats including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have demanded increased oversight of DHS and ICE activities. Jeffries has publicly stated that Noem should face impeachment if she refuses to resign, while Schumer has pushed for additional restrictions on immigration enforcement during funding negotiations.
Noem Announces Transparency Measures
In response to scrutiny, Secretary Kristi Noem announced new transparency measures aimed at reinforcing accountability and public trust. She confirmed that body-worn cameras would be deployed immediately to all federal immigration officers operating in Minneapolis, with plans for a nationwide rollout pending funding approval.
“Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote on X.
Federal authorities noted that some Customs and Border Protection officers involved in the Jan. 24 shooting of Alex Pretti were already equipped with cameras, though full footage has not yet been released. Officials have not confirmed whether ICE agents involved in the earlier fatal encounter with Renee Good were wearing body cameras at the time.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz responded by saying the technology should have been implemented earlier, arguing that the deaths of Pretti and Good — both of whom were killed while interfering with ICE law enforcement operations — underscore the need for transparency in high-risk enforcement scenarios.
As President Donald J. Trump’s administration continues to prioritize immigration enforcement and national sovereignty, the heated clash between federal officials and progressive lawmakers highlights the widening divide over border security, federal authority, and the rule of law in America’s major cities.