One of the guests invited by Ilhan Omar was arrested Tuesday night after an incident during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, according to the United States Capitol Police. Authorities identified the guest as Aliya M. Rahman, 43, of Minneapolis. Officers said she stood in the House gallery during the speech and did not comply after being told several times to sit down. Capitol Police noted that all State of the Union tickets clearly warn attendees that demonstrations are prohibited inside the chamber, and officers viewed her actions as a violation of those rules. At about 10:07 p.m., police reported seeing Rahman engaged in behavior they considered demonstrative and said she refused lawful instructions to stop.
Police stated that federal and local regulations prohibit disrupting Congress or demonstrating inside congressional buildings. Rahman was arrested under D.C. Code §10-503.16, which addresses unlawful conduct and disruption of congressional proceedings. After processing, she was issued a citation release, which officials described as a routine step in similar misdemeanor cases.
Rahman attended the speech as one of four guests invited by Omar. The Minnesota lawmaker has frequently criticized immigration enforcement policies and previously highlighted Rahman’s activism related to accountability in federal immigration operations. Rahman had also drawn public attention earlier this year after a disputed encounter with immigration officers in Minneapolis, an incident that she and her attorney say involved excessive force.
