Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has accused the Trump administration of openly defying a unanimous Supreme Court order, warning that such actions threaten the very foundation of American democracy.
Speaking recently Omar said the administration refused to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who she says was wrongfully deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador despite a clear court directive.
“We didn’t think this was possible, but the Trump administration defied a unanimous Supreme Court order,” Omar said.
“The administration continues to ignore the rule of law, undermining the very foundation of our democracy.”
According to Omar, Abrego Garcia’s deportation represents a broader pattern of government overreach, where individuals are removed from the country without proper legal safeguards or respect for judicial authority.
She argued that ignoring court rulings not only violates constitutional principles but also sets a dangerous precedent where executive power supersedes the judiciary.
University of Minnesota Student Detained by ICE
Omar also highlighted a separate case in her district involving a graduate student at the University of Minnesota who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without warning.
The student, she said, had no involvement in political activism and was taken from his home, held without immediate explanation, and later informed that his visa had been retroactively revoked.
“This action not only disrupted his education but instilled fear across our academic community,” Omar noted.
The congresswoman stressed that these incidents are not isolated. She claimed that across the country, individuals are being detained and deported without due process, often based on unverified or questionable allegations.
Omar sharply criticized the administration’s reliance on obscure legislation such as the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, calling its use a “plain abuse of power.”
Omar Warns of Democratic Backsliding
Raising broader constitutional concerns, Omar questioned whose rights could be targeted next if non-citizens’ protections are so easily discarded.
“Our Constitution guarantees due process and equal protection under the law to everyone in this country—not just citizens,” she said.
“If the government can silence you, detain you, or deport you while defying court orders, then none of our rights are safe.”
She warned that allowing such actions to go unchecked risks normalizing authoritarian practices.
“What we are seeing is authoritarianism creeping in through the back door, one ignored ruling at a time,” Omar added.
The Minnesota re concluded by vowing resistance, saying she and her colleagues are prepared to challenge what she described as unlawful and unconstitutional conduct.
“If we let this slide, we are saying the Constitution is optional and it is not. My colleagues and I are ready to fight back with everything we’ve got.”
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