Latin America's largest airline files for US bankruptcy

 

Washington, D.C.— Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, is facing a new wave of criticism following her remarks regarding immigration enforcement and the so-called Laken Riley Act.

During a recent appearance, the legislator misspoke about the name of Laken Riley, a University of Georgia nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant, prompting immediate backlash from her critics. Later, referring to the proposal bearing the young woman's name, she stated that the initiative was designed "to make a profit for ICE detention centers."

The statements were described as insensitive by several Republican congressmen, who accused Omar of downplaying the tragedy and using a high-impact social case for political purposes. Criticism also mounted on social media, highlighting voices that accused her of being "out of touch with the victims" and of "justifying" irregularities in the immigration system.

The Laken Riley Act, promoted by conservative lawmakers, seeks to toughen measures against immigrants who have committed crimes in the United States. Its detractors, including Omar, argue that the proposal has an economic underpinning and could lead to greater incarceration of migrants without fundamentally addressing the problem.

The episode adds to other recent controversies involving the congresswoman and occurs at a time when immigration policy is at the center of the 2026 election agenda.