Defending Constitutional Rights: Free Mahmoud Khalil

I joined my colleagues in demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident who was arrested and detained for exercising his First Amendment rights as a student advocate for Palestinian rights. His forced disappearance by Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents is an attack on all Americans' right to dissent. Congress cannot allow this blatant abuse of power to stand. 

 

US-Africa Policy Working Group: Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo

On Tuesday, the U.S.-Africa Policy Working Group convened its first meeting of the 119th Congress. Members heard from experts on the escalating human rights and humanitarian crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on the occupation of Goma and surrounding areas by the M23 militia and the historical context behind these ongoing atrocities. Read the full readout here. 

 

Discussing Housing Access in Minnesota

I had a productive meeting with Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho to discuss the statewide impact of staffing and field office cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These cuts, combined with funding and contract freezes, threaten the stability of housing programs that so many Minnesotans rely on. We also talked about long-term solutions to increase the supply of affordable housing. Everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home. I will continue pushing for federal investments in housing and fighting back against policies that undermine access to affordable homes in our communities.

 

Meeting with Minneapolis Council members

This week, I met with Minneapolis City Council Members to discuss how we can work together at the federal level to support our city. Council President Elliot Payne, along with Council Members Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury, Andrea Jenkins, and Katie Cashman, provided an update on key issues facing Minneapolis and shared the city’s top priorities in areas like housing, public safety, infrastructure, and economic development. I look forward to continuing these conversations and fighting for our city in Congress.

 

Meeting with St. Louis Park Council members

I met with St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, City Manager Kim Keller, and Council Members Lynette Dumalag and Yolanda Farris, along with Legislative & Grants Analyst Clancy Ferris, to discuss the urgent need to protect federal funding for their city. With the federal funding freeze putting critical local projects at risk, we talked about how Community Project Funding can help ensure that St. Louis Park gets the resources it needs for infrastructure, housing, and community development. I will continue fighting in Congress to secure these investments and prevent harmful cuts that would hurt our cities and residents.

 

Submit your Work to the Congressional Art Competition

Art is often the context that helps us understand who we are and where our common ground is. The theme for this year's competition is “Where the Water Reflects the Sky”: As Minnesota embraces a new state seal, we reflect on the state’s original Dakota Name: Mni Sóta Makoce – “where the water reflects the sky”. This year, I encourage students to dream up and understand how the history of this state shapes what we represent today.

- Visual art competition is open to all high schoolers in Minnesota's Fifth District
- Submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11th, 2025
- Votes will be conducted by the selected judges
- Winning submission will get two plane tickets to Washington, DC & have their       work displayed in the US Capitol for one year

 

Visit my website for more details about the competition & how to submit your entry.

 

In Service, 

 

 

 

 

 

Ilhan Omar