Rep Ilhan Omar advises Somali immigrants not to comply with ICE deportations

"I advise the Somalian people that if ICE attempts to question you, you are not obligated to answer their questions," Omar said. "Just state that you were advised by a lawyer not to answer questions. Disclosure of your name, immigration status, and the mode of entry is not mandatory. Learn the laws and prepare yourself."

This comes as immigration authorities are cracking down on illegal immigration across the country. Minneapolis’ mayor Jacob Frey told illegal immigrants in his community: "I want to speak directly to people who are undocumented: we love you. We care about you. In the city of Minneapolis, we will stand up for you and we will do anything in our power to help because you're not an alien; in our city, you're a neighbor." Minneapolis is part of Omar’s district.

"Now, in Minneapolis, we have what is called a separation ordinance," Frey added, saying that the city will not gather information on who is an illegal immigrant in the city. "And that separation ordinance states clearly that our city officials, our police officers and beyond, will not be gathering information showing who is and who is not documented."

"Our police officers will not be cooperating with federal law enforcement around federal immigration law. We enforce state and local laws here in Minneapolis, and we will do so to the best of our ability. But as for cooperation with ICE, the answer is no," Frey added.

Shortly after Trump was sworn into office, Omar reintroduced the "Neighbors Not Enemies Act," which would repeal the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. "We cannot allow antiquated laws to continue enabling discriminatory practices that harm immigrant communities," Omar said. "The Alien Enemies Act has been used to target immigrants based solely on their nationality, leading to shameful chapters in our history like the internment of Japanese, Italian, and German-Americans during World War II. President Trump’s new administration is also threatening to use this law for sweeping detentions and deportations of immigrants without due process based solely on national origin. Repealing this law is a necessary step toward creating an immigration system rooted in justice and compassion."