Ilhan Omar Removed From ICE Facility

U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar and two other Minnesota lawmakers were removed from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility this past Saturday after officials said they did not provide the required advance notice for a visit, raising questions about congressional access to federal detention site

Omar, along with U.S. Representatives Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison attempted to enter the ICE field office inside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul. The lawmakers said they were initially allowed inside before being told they had to leave under a newly implemented Department of Homeland Security policy requiring one week’s notice for congressional visits.

Ilhan Omar Says Staff Initially Allowed the Group Inside

According to Omar, the group arrived shortly after 9 a.m. and was escorted into the building by staff who appeared to believe the visit was permitted. Omar said they were inside for roughly 30 minutes before two officials informed them they could not remain due to the new notice requirement.

“We were initially invited in to do our congressional oversight and to exercise our Article I duties,” Omar said. She added that the staff member who allowed them in had worked at the facility for years and was familiar with standard procedures for congressional visits.

Craig said the group had not been notified of any new restrictions before arriving and expected to conduct a routine oversight tour.

DHS Policy Cited in Removal of Omar and Colleagues

ICE officials said the lawmakers were removed because they had not complied with a new DHS policy requiring members of Congress to provide at least seven days’ notice before entering ICE facilities. The agency stated that the rule is designed to ensure safety and coordination.

The lawmakers said they were unaware of the change and argued that the policy conflicts with long‑standing congressional authority to conduct unannounced inspections of federal facilities. DHS has not released the full text of the updated rule, and it is unclear when it formally took effect.

The policy was referenced in a statement provided to multiple news outlets, which reported that DHS now requires “a week’s advance notice” for congressional visits.

Visit by Omar Followed Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis

The attempted visit occurred three days after an ICE officer fatally shot 37‑year‑old Nicole Renee Good during an encounter in Minneapolis. The shooting has sparked protests and renewed scrutiny of ICE operations in the Twin Cities.

Omar said the group intended to ask questions about the shooting and review procedures related to officer‑involved incidents. She said the removal raised concerns about transparency during a period of heightened public attention.

ICE has said the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. No additional details about the incident have been released.

Lawmakers Seek Clarification After Omar’s Removal

Craig and Morrison said they plan to request documentation outlining the new notice requirement and its legal basis. They said they want to know whether the policy applies broadly and how it will affect future oversight visits.

Omar said she expects further discussions in Washington about congressional access to federal facilities, particularly those involved in detention and enforcement operations. “This is not the end of the conversation,” she said.