2026 State of the Union address: on Immigration

Ilhan Omar: Trump lying about Minnesota Somalis "plundering" $19 billion

President Donald Trump zoomed in on Minnesota's Somali community during his State of the Union address, calling them "pirates" who have "ransacked Minnesota" and cited an unproven claim that they have carried out $19 billion in fraud. His remarks prompted sharp rebuke from Somali American Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who called him a "liar."

"That's a lie; you're lying," Omar shouted back in response to Trump's claim. Prosecutors say stolen funds could total $9 billion, though the Minnesota Star Tribune has found that alleged fraud uncovered so far in some state programs is closer to $200 million.

Trump said "the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens." Trump called on lawmakers to "enact serious penalties for public officials who block the removal of criminal aliens." In response to one of his remarks, Omar yelled out: "You have killed Americans," alluding to federal agents fatally shooting Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Source: Minnesota Star Tribune on 2026 State of the Union address Feb 24, 2026

Donald Trump: Bar granting commercial driver's licenses to illegal aliens

Many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs as to direction, speed, danger or location. That's why tonight I'm calling on Congress to pass what we will call the Delilah Law, barring any state from granting commercial driver's licenses to illegal aliens. Source: 2026 State of the Union Address to the U.S. Congress Feb 24, 2026

Abigail Spanberger: Poorly-trained ICE agents sow fear in our communities

Law enforcement officers across the country know that it's a unique responsibility to do the serious work of investigating crimes, comforting victims, and making arrests. It's about building trust, and that requires an abiding sense of duty and commitment to community. And yet, our President has sent poorly trained federal agents into our cities, where they have arrested and detained American citizens and people who aspire to be Americans--and they have done it without a warrant.

They have ripped mothers away from their babies, they have sent children to far-off detention centers, and they have killed American citizens on our streets. And they have done it all with their faces masked from accountability.

Every minute spent sowing fear is a minute not spent investigating crimes. Our President told us tonight that we are safer because of these agents. Our broken immigration system is something to be fixed--not an excuse for unaccountable agents to terrorize our communities.

Source: Democratic response to the 2026 State of the Union Address Feb 24, 2026

Alex Padilla: Trump will not be president forever; the Dream will remain

Padilla bashed Trump's immigration policies in the Spanish-language rebuttal to the State of the Union address. "The State of our Union does not feel strong for everyone," Padilla said. "Not when federal agents--armed and masked--terrorize our communities by targeting people because of the color of their skin or for speaking Spanish--including immigrants with legal status and citizens."

During Trump's speech he made numerous disparaging remarks about immigrants. Padilla repeatedly attacked Trump's immigration policies and noted that since the president took office last year, 40 people have died in ICE custody. "They have even taken the lives of 2 American citizens in broad daylight, simply for exercising their freedom of speech," he said.

"Donald Trump will not be president forever. More importantly, the Dream that has inspired generations of Americans and immigrants will remain long after Trump is gone," Padilla said, listing immigrant groups that faced a history of discrimination.

Source: The Hill on 2026 State of the Union Address Feb 24, 2026

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Message to ICE: secret police do not belong here

We must remember in times such as this: we are not the crazy ones. We are not the outlandish ones. They want us to think we are crazy--we are sane.

To demand affordable housing, a decent wage, the right to healthcare, that we pay to care for our people instead of the flattening of Palestinians and oppressed people abroad is not a radical act--it is basic and core humanity.

We will send a loud message to President Donald Trump: his authoritarianism is no good here.

We will send a message to ICE: that secret police do not belong here.

When I think about what is happening throughout our nation today, and what Donald Trump has done in his demolition of the White House--we must let him know: That house doesn't belong to him. It belongs to us. It belongs to the people of this country.

There has been a day before this presidency, and there will be a day after. And it belongs to us.

Source: AOC response email to 2026 State of the Union Address Feb 24, 2026

Libertarian Party: Focus on root causes instead of border chaos

The immigration crisis is another example of politicians refusing to address the root cause of a problem they helped create. Trump celebrates the lowest border crossings on record, attributing it to military deployment and increased enforcement, but like every administration before him, he ignores the fact that our legal immigration system is fundamentally broken. It is not just a problem of law enforcement, it is a problem of policy.

A good immigration system would remove perverse government incentives while streamlining legal pathways, ensuring that those who wish to contribute to America can do so without jumping through an impossible bureaucratic maze. Instead, politicians of both parties use immigration as a wedge issue, blaming enforcement or leniency while failing to reform the system itself.

The result? A nation that oscillates between border chaos and heavy-handed crackdowns, with no lasting solution in sight.

Source: Libertarian Party response to the 2026 State of the Union Feb 24, 2026

Tom Tiffany: Thousands in Wisconsin who should not be in our country

Rep. Tom Tiffany, serving northern Wisconsin, hopes to hear the President tout efforts to secure the nation's border. Tiffany said, "I mean, we've had thousands of people in Wisconsin who, should not have been in our country. They're here illegally, and oftentimes have committed violent crimes in their home country or here in the United States and should be removed."

Tiffany also claimed the President is bringing down inflation, which he added has led to Americans having more money in their pockets.

Source: Republican response to the 2026 State of the Union Address Feb 24, 2026

The above quotations are from 2026 State of the Union address to Congress, plus the Democratic response. Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Donald Trump on Immigration.
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Page last updated: Apr 02, 2026