Ilhan Omar is reportedly considering leaving the United States after the cancellation of TPS protections for Somalis, a policy shift that sparked a political storm and sent ripples of anxiety through Somali-American communities.
According to those close to her office, the congresswoman expressed the idea half-jokingly, half-wearily, after yet another week of political turbulence. Her now-viral remark — “Is Canada hiring?” — was meant as a humorous sigh, but it quickly evolved into national speculation, media debates, and a sudden spike in Google searches for “Canadian immigration requirements.”
People within Omar’s circle say the frustration behind her joke is real. The TPS cancellation reopened long-standing wounds for Somali immigrants who feel they have been used as political talking points for years.
Omar, whose identity is deeply intertwined with the diaspora she represents, has watched communities respond with fear, anger, and exhaustion. Insiders say that after hearing the news, she leaned back in her office chair, stared at the ceiling with the weariness of someone who has seen too many congressional sessions, and muttered that Canada “seems dramatically calmer and far less emotionally destructive.”
In private, she reportedly opened her laptop and typed “jobs in Canada for disillusioned lawmakers,” a search that returned nothing but ads for snow tires, maple syrup tours, and guidebooks for surviving Canadian winters.
Still, according to staffers, the moment was less about literal relocation and more about symbolic escape — the fantasy of stepping away from the nonstop theater of American politics and into a country where political scandals typically involve late paperwork or overly enthusiastic moose.
Canadian officials, caught off guard by the sudden international attention, responded with predictable politeness. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Immigration clarified that they “cannot officially confirm job openings for U.S. Congress members,” but noted that Canada is “a welcoming nation that values civic engagement, multiculturalism, and the absence of daily political shouting.”
The comment made its way across Canadian media, where one columnist wrote that Omar’s arrival would “dramatically increase the entertainment quotient of Parliament, which currently hovers near zero.”
Meanwhile, U.S. social media erupted. Progressives jokingly begged Omar to take them with her. Conservatives rejoiced at the possibility of a self-declared departure. Independents sighed dramatically and considered moving to the woods.
TikTokers posted videos of themselves packing imaginary bags, and thousands of Americans googled “Can you move to Canada because of politics?” as if it were a standard emergency procedure.
Airlines quickly capitalized on the buzz. Air Canada released a limited-time “Is Canada Hiring?” fare promotion featuring discounted flights, commemorative boarding passes, and a complementary cup of something described as “politically neutral coffee.”
Even more humorously, a Minnesota travel agency began advertising “Escape Like Ilhan!” weekend packages, complete with guided tours of Winnipeg and free emotional support mittens.
The catalyst behind all this, however, remains deeply serious. The cancellation of TPS protections reignited fears among Somali families already living under constant uncertainty.
Many have established lives, homes, and businesses in the United States, and now face the possibility of abrupt upheaval. Omar has long advocated for these communities, and those close to her say watching them panic yet again affected her profoundly. Her Canada joke, they say, was a moment of levity layered over genuine emotional fatigue.
Members of her staff have reportedly begun drafting a tongue-in-cheek list of “possible relocation strategies,” ranging from a peaceful walk across the Minnesota–Canada border to a dramatic farewell press conference set to Celine Dion music.
One staffer confessed that half the office would consider following her if she ever actually moved, citing burnout, political chaos, and the increasingly tempting dream of universal healthcare.
Canadian commentators seem both amused and cautious. Some warn Omar that the most aggressive force in Canada is not the political establishment but the wild geese, which have allegedly chased more people than Parliament has passed controversial bills.
Others welcome the idea of Omar bringing a burst of American-scale drama to a nation used to low-stakes debates about milk prices and snowplow budgets.
As speculation continues, Omar has clarified in private that her comment was, at its core, a moment of satire born from exasperation. Yet even she acknowledges that the emotional resonance behind her words reflects a larger truth: the strain placed on immigrant communities by political maneuvering, and the personal toll it takes on anyone fighting for them day after day.
For now, Omar remains in Congress, still drafting legislation, still attending hearings, and still fielding questions from reporters about whether she is truly preparing to cross into Canada. But those close to her say that while she may not be packing her bags, she is certainly keeping one eye on the northern border — not out of fear, but out of longing for a quieter chapter, even if it’s only a fantasy whispered between political battles.
