Washington: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that its officials did not conduct a traffic stop involving the son of Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, countering accusations from the congresswoman of a 'PR stunt.'

According to Anadolu Agency, DHS issued a statement via US social media company X, asserting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had no record of stopping Omar's son. DHS criticized Omar for allegedly making baseless claims intended to malign ICE. The department emphasized that it does not engage in racial profiling during immigration enforcement and described any such allegations as false. DHS highlighted that arrests are made based on immigration status and not influenced by race, skin color, or ethnicity, citing the Fourth Amendment's 'reasonable suspicion' standard for arrests.

On Sunday, Ilhan Omar claimed that her son, a US-born citizen, was stopped by ICE agents in an act of racial profiling, allegedly targeting individuals who resemble Somali nationals. This claim came amid recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who has criticized Somalis and Omar, linking his comments to a broader immigration policy agenda that includes restrictions on countries like Somalia.

Last Friday, Omar addressed a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, accusing them of racial profiling and excessive use of force. In response, Lyons refuted Omar's allegations on Tuesday, arguing that her claims were unsubstantiated and contributed to growing hostility against ICE, including increased assaults and threats against its personnel.