Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota, says one of her guests at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech was forcibly removed from the chamber and arrested by U.S. Capitol Police during the event. The incident happened during Trump’s address to Congress on February 24, 2026, and it has drawn sharp criticism from Omar and sparked debate about free expression and police conduct at official government events.
The guest in question is Aliya Rahman, a software engineer and Minneapolis resident whom Omar invited to attend the speech with her. Rahman previously made headlines in January when she was detained by federal immigration agents during a law enforcement operation in Minnesota called “Operation Metro Surge.” That encounter left her with shoulder injuries, and she has since become known among supporters as someone who has confronted immigration enforcement practices.
According to Omar, Rahman was standing silently in the gallery — the area where invited guests sit — for a brief moment during Trump’s address. Omar says that at times during the speech, other guests stood as well. But Capitol Police officers approached Rahman, ignored her warnings that she had injured shoulders, and forcibly removed her from the chamber. She was then arrested on a charge of “Unlawful Conduct” related to alleged disruption of the proceedings, a misdemeanor that can carry up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.
In a statement, Omar said that reports suggested Rahman was “aggressively handled” by officers until someone intervened to make sure she received medical attention. She said Rahman was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment before being booked at the United States Capitol Police headquarters. Omar called the response “heavy-handed” and said the arrest of what she described as a “peaceful guest” was chilling, arguing it sends a worrying message about the state of democracy and civic engagement.
Rahman herself later spoke about the incident outside of official statements, saying she was not trying to protest or disrupt the speech. She said she simply stood up silently, without shouting, chanting, wearing protest signs, or making gestures — actions that, she noted, other guests also did as they followed the normal pattern of sitting and standing during the speech. Rahman told media outlets that she felt she was targeted for her silence and that the arrest was extreme given that she did not make any noise or engage in protest behavior.
Capitol Police have maintained that the arrest was lawful and based on Rahman’s refusal to comply with orders to sit down, which they viewed as a disruption of Congress. In a brief statement, the police noted that guests at the State of the Union are not permitted to demonstrate during the address and that Rahman was warned before she was taken into custody. They did not offer additional details about her status or future charges.
The situation has added to the already tense atmosphere around the State of the Union address. During the speech itself, Omar and some other Democratic lawmakers openly expressed their disagreements with Trump’s remarks, particularly around immigration policy. At one point, Omar shouted from the House floor in response to comments about sanctuary cities and immigration enforcement — a moment that was widely reported and stirred controversy of its own.
Rahman’s arrest has also drawn attention because of her background. Supporters and some Democrats point out that she is disabled and has previously suffered serious injuries. They argue that being forcibly removed from the chamber was excessive, especially since she did not display any protest materials or make loud statements during the address. Omar and others have called for a full explanation of why the arrest occurred and whether law enforcement overstepped its authority.
The case has become a flashpoint in broader discussions about how dissent is treated in official government settings, how guests are expected to conduct themselves during high-profile events like the State of the Union, and how law enforcement decides when someone’s actions cross the line into unlawful behavior. As of now, Rahman’s arrest has sparked debate on social media and among political commentators, with opinions divided sharply along partisan lines.
