Minneapolis, MN – January 11, 2026 – Tensions escalated outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, home to the regional Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters, on Saturday when Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and two fellow Minnesota Democratic congresswomen were initially allowed entry for an oversight visit but were quickly ordered to leave.
Reps. Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison arrived at the facility shortly after 9 a.m. amid ongoing protests sparked by the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer on January 7. The lawmakers, accompanied by some activists and media, faced a line of armed federal agents at the entrance. After a brief standoff, they were permitted inside but were escorted out approximately 30 minutes later.
Omar described the incident to reporters, stating that officials initially authorized the visit but later rescinded it, citing directions from higher up. She quoted facility personnel as saying, “Yes, the law’s on your side, but we don’t care. And we are not going to allow you to fulfill your oversight.” The congresswomen argued that a December federal court ruling affirms congressional authority for unannounced oversight visits to detention facilities, funded through congressional appropriations.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials countered that the visit violated agency policy requiring at least seven days’ advance notice for safety reasons. A DHS spokesperson also referenced recent funding under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” as justification for denying access, and accused the lawmakers of leading protesters to the site following overnight unrest in downtown Minneapolis.
Following the ejection, Omar joined demonstrators outside the facility, addressing crowds and criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions as a “blatant attempt to obstruct members of Congress” and part of broader efforts to “terrorize” immigrant communities, particularly Somali and Latino residents in Minnesota.
The confrontation unfolded against the backdrop of days of protests across the Twin Cities, with calls for ICE to cease operations in the state. Nearly a dozen protesters were arrested earlier in the week, and thousands marched on Saturday demanding justice for Good and an end to what activists describe as aggressive raids.
Omar later spoke to a large rally, emphasizing community resistance and vowing continued oversight: “We are here to stay. They came to terrorize, abduct and deport… but we live in a democracy.”
DHS defended the actions, prioritizing detainee and staff safety amid heightened tensions. No injuries were reported during the Saturday incident, though the event highlighted deepening divisions over federal immigration policy in Minnesota.
