Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons says the agency has "absolutely zero record" that officers stopped Rep. Ilhan Omar's son after she told a CBS affiliate he was asked to show proof of U.S. citizenship. Omar's spokesperson insists the congresswoman's account is accurate and calls the interaction racial profiling. The dispute comes amid a broader fraud probe affecting Minnesota's Somali community and recent attacks from former President Trump. Both sides have offered conflicting statements and the matter remains publicly unresolved.
ICE Says 'Absolutely Zero Record' Of Stopping Ilhan Omar's Son; Omar's Office Disputes Account
ICE rejects Omar claim son was pulled over by feds, pressed for citizenship proof: ‘Absolutely zero record’
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday denied a claim by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D‑Minn.) that agency personnel stopped her son near a Minnesota Target and pressed him to show proof of U.S. citizenship.
Omar told the CBS Twin Cities affiliate that her son was subjected to a traffic‑stop–style encounter on Saturday by people she identified as ICE agents and that the encounter ended only after he produced a U.S. passport or passport card.
Agency Says No Record Of The Stop
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons disputed the account in comments to Fox News Digital, saying the agency has "absolutely zero record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar’s son." Lyons criticized the congresswoman’s description as unfounded and said such rhetoric has coincided with an increase in threats against ICE staff — citing agency figures that allege a 1,150% rise in assaults and an 8,000% rise in death threats.
"ICE has absolutely zero record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar’s son," Lyons said. "It speaks volumes that Congresswoman Omar is leveling this accusation with absolutely zero proof."
Omar's Office Stands By Her Account
Omar’s office has not backed down. Spokesperson Jacklyn Rogers told Fox News Digital the congresswoman stands by her story, saying Omar’s son and others were "pulled over by ICE, racially profiled, and forced to prove their citizenship with a passport." Rogers challenged ICE to produce any records of the stop and said Omar’s office would welcome reviewing them if they exist.
ICE Director Todd Lyons; left. Rep. Ilhan Omar, right.
The dispute adds to heightened tensions in Minnesota politics after a fraud investigation affecting the state’s Somali community and sharp public attacks from former President Donald Trump. Trump recently called Omar "garbage" and repeated an unproven allegation that she married a family member to obtain citizenship — claims Omar has rejected.
Omar's Response And Broader Context
Omar reiterated details of her immigration history, saying she arrived in the United States at age 12 and became a citizen at 17. Public reports note her complex marital history across several years; Omar has publicly denied any wrongdoing related to those matters. She also criticized attempts to hold an entire community accountable for the actions of individuals and said she supports investigations that focus on facts and individual culpability.
Both ICE’s denial and Omar’s insistence that the stop occurred were reported by national outlets, and the disagreement remains unresolved publicly. ICE officials say they have no internal record of the encounter; Omar’s office says it will continue to press for answers and documentation.
Reporting note: This article is based on statements to local and national media by Rep. Ilhan Omar and by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, and on comments from Omar’s spokesperson. The agencies and offices involved gave competing accounts that have not been reconciled in public records at the time of publication.
