Rep. Ilhan Omar fired back sharply at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after Noem touted what she described as massive immigration enforcement victories in Minneapolis, calling the claims “lies and propaganda” and accusing the administration of using fear-based messaging for political gain.
Noem, in a public statement, claimed federal authorities had arrested more than 10,000 “criminal illegal aliens” in Minneapolis and blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for what she described as a breakdown in public safety.
“PEACE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS!” Noem wrote. “We have arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because Tim Walz and Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals.”
PEACE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS! We have arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because Tim Walz and Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals. In the…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 19, 2026
She went on to say that in the past six weeks alone, DHS law enforcement arrested 3,000 people she characterized as “vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals,” calling the operations “a HUGE victory for public safety.” Noem also alleged “MASSIVE fraud” in Minneapolis totaling at least $19 billion and said Homeland Security Investigations were conducting “wide scale investigations” in the city. She closed her statement with the slogan, “MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”
Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, responded bluntly, disputing both the substance and the framing of Noem’s claims.
“This would be amazing if it wasn’t full of lies and propaganda,” Omar said. “The only reason she has photos of these criminals in prison is because they were already in prison.”
This would be amazing if it wasn’t full of lies and propaganda. The only reason she has photos of these criminals in prison is because they were already in prison. Stop terrorizing people with your fake PR about criminals in Minneapolis because the only people on the streets of… https://t.co/iEJ4DNGzMy
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 20, 2026
Omar accused the administration of misleading the public by presenting already-incarcerated individuals as evidence of new enforcement actions, and said the messaging was designed to stoke fear rather than reflect reality on the ground.
“Stop terrorizing people with your fake PR about criminals in Minneapolis,” Omar continued, “because the only people on the streets of Minneapolis you are arresting are law abiding citizens.”
Her remarks tap into broader concerns raised by immigrant advocates and civil rights groups, who argue that aggressive federal enforcement campaigns often blur the line between targeting serious offenders and sweeping up nonviolent residents, creating fear in immigrant communities. Omar has long criticized DHS operations she says rely on exaggerated crime narratives and undermine trust between law enforcement and local communities.
The exchange highlights an intensifying political clash over immigration enforcement and public safety, particularly in Democratic-led cities. While the Trump administration and its allies argue that tough federal action is necessary to restore order, Omar and other Democrats contend that such rhetoric distorts facts, scapegoats immigrants, and uses Minneapolis as a political prop in a national debate. As federal immigration operations continue to expand, the dispute underscores how sharply divided officials remain—not just over policy, but over the basic facts of what is happening on the ground in cities like Minneapolis.
