Far-left Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) spoke out against the Trump administration’s immigration policies during a town hall meeting in Antioch, Tennessee, on Saturday. The event took place at Cane Ridge High School, just outside Nashville, and attracted several hundred attendees.
Omar criticized the recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), claiming they have shocked people around the world. She urged the audience to consider the implications of ICE raids, stating, “The reality is when they come from one of us, they’re eventually going to come for all of us.” She expressed concern over reports of people being detained and disappearing without accountability.
The town hall organizers made their stance against ICE clear, posting signs that read “ICE not permitted on the premises.” Flyers supporting Omar were also distributed throughout the school, which is publicly funded.
During her speech, Omar condemned a recent spending and tax cut package from the Trump administration, which she referred to as the “big ugly bill.” This legislation included funding to hire more ICE agents and improve their facilities. She argued that ICE agents should not be allowed to wear masks during enforcement operations, as it adds to the fear and confusion surrounding their actions. “When they see these kinds of images coming out of America, it is really shocking and it should be to all of us as Americans,” she said.
The town hall also highlighted local concerns about immigration policies. Joy Guss, a Metro Nashville Public Schools employee, noted that ICE raids have led to a drop in school attendance among Latino students, describing the situation as “terrorizing our children.” Another attendee, Julia, who moved from California to Tennessee, expressed her distress about the state of the country under Trump, particularly regarding workplace immigration raids.
Omar took the opportunity to criticize Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), who represents the area. The high school is located in a predominantly Democratic area southeast of Nashville, where Ogles was elected to a second term in 2024 with nearly 60% of the vote, largely from surrounding conservative counties.
Joining Omar at the rally was state Rep. Justin Jones, who described recent ICE raids in Nashville as kidnappings and compared the agency to the Ku Klux Klan. These raids had resulted in the arrest of 196 individuals, many of whom had prior criminal records, including serious offenses.
The event underscored the growing divide over immigration policies in the U.S., as community members voiced their opposition to federal enforcement actions they believe are unjust and harmful.