Congresswoman Omar Assaulted at Minneapolis Town Hall Over ICE Stance

US Representative Ilhan Omar was physically assaulted during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday, sprayed with an unidentified liquid by an assailant while delivering remarks calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).The attack occurred as Omar, a Democratic congresswoman representing Minnesota's 5th District, was addressing constituents about immigration policy. 'ICE cannot be reformed. It cannot be rehabilitated; we must abolish ICE for good. And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment,' Omar stated moments before the incident.Video footage from C-SPAN captured the assault, showing an unidentified male rushing the podium and spraying Omar with a dark-colored liquid from a syringe while shouting 'You must resign.' Security personnel immediately subdued the attacker, who was subsequently arrested on third-degree assault charges.Despite audience concerns about the substance's odor and calls for medical evaluation, Omar continued her remarks after briefly leaving the podium. 'We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us,' she told supporters.The incident underscores mounting tensions surrounding the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, particularly Operation Metro Surge—a comprehensive ICE operation launched in December targeting undocumented immigrants in Minneapolis. Recent enforcement actions have resulted in two civilian fatalities this month, including ICU nurse Alex Pretti.Political leaders across party lines condemned the attack. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey characterized the assault as 'unacceptable,' while South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace stated that 'no elected official should face physical attacks' despite policy disagreements.Omar, a Somali-American former refugee who made history as one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress in 2018, has faced previous criticism for her progressive stances on immigration and foreign policy. President Trump has previously called her 'garbage' and threatened financial investigations.The congresswoman, who serves as deputy chair of the Progressive Caucus, was re-elected for a third term in 2024, representing a district that includes Minneapolis and surrounding areas.