Fox News personality Tomi Lahren has launched a fierce attack on Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar, labelling her "the perfect poster child for why we need a closed border." The comments came in response to Omar's criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents' actions in her home state of Minnesota.
Omar's 'U.S. Goddamn States' Diatribe Draws Fire
The controversy erupted after a clip circulated of Representative Omar speaking at a field hearing on immigration in St Paul on Friday, 16 January 2026. The progressive congresswoman, who was born in Somalia and became a US citizen in 2000, expressed outrage at an ICE crackdown.
"The one place where we thought we would never experience this is the U.S. Goddamn States," Omar stated during the hearing.
Reacting on The Big Weekend Show on Sunday, 19 January 2026, Lahren seized on the remark. "Well, listen, I actually have to thank Congresswoman Ilhan Omar because she has served as the perfect poster child for why we need a closed border," Lahren said. She added that it demonstrated why America should "stop importing people from third-world countries who have no respect for this country."
Conservatives Rally Against Omar Amid Minnesota Tensions
Lahren was not alone in her condemnation. The same clip, posted by the Rapid Response 47 account on X (formerly Twitter), drew widespread criticism from MAGA-aligned figures. Far-right activist Laura Loomer demanded Omar be deported, while Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee expressed outrage.
Elon Musk suggested Omar be tried for treason, and disgraced former congressman George Santos called her "the enemy within," questioning her allegiance to the United States.
The political firestorm is unfolding against a backdrop of severe tension in Minnesota. The situation escalated following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old mother of three, Renee Nicole Good, by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis earlier this month. In response to the killing and a major ICE surge of 3,000 agents ordered by former President Donald Trump, protests have exploded across the state.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has demanded federal agents "get the f*** out" of his city, which he described as "under siege." The Department of Justice has since announced an investigation into Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement.
A Deepening National Divide on Immigration
This incident highlights the profound and bitter national divide over immigration policy and enforcement. Lahren used her platform to further claim that "Democrats are always on the side of the illegal aliens," contrasting Democratic support for driver's licences for undocumented migrants with criticism of ICE.
Ilhan Omar has long been a target for conservative commentators. Her comparison of ICE operations in Los Angeles last June to tactics seen in a dictatorship previously caused significant outrage. In that instance, she warned that America was becoming "one of the worst countries" where constitutional rights were being ignored.
With President Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act and Governor Walz placing the National Guard on standby, the situation in Minnesota remains volatile. The war of words between figures like Lahren and Omar underscores the deeply entrenched positions that continue to define the American immigration debate.
