Reports swirling around Capitol Hill this week suggest that Representative Ilhan Omar is “genuinely considering” leaving the United States after the administration announced the cancellation of TPS protections for Somalis.
While Omar herself is not on TPS and is, in fact, an American citizen, the decision hit close enough to home that she reportedly sighed dramatically, stared out a window for a full ten seconds, and asked the question now echoing across social media: “Is Canada hiring?”
Those close to Omar say the remark wasn’t entirely a joke. After years of political battles, targeted rhetoric, and repeated demands from critics that she “go back where she came from,” Omar is apparently weighing what she calls her “northern escape plan.”
According to one staffer, she spent the morning browsing job listings in Ontario before getting distracted by a BuzzFeed quiz titled “Which Canadian Snack Are You?” She got “ketchup chips,” which she considered a sign of fate.
The TPS announcement itself was the spark. Somali communities across the United States reacted with confusion, frustration, and a kind of tired resignation usually reserved for discovering that your favorite restaurant stopped serving your favorite dish.
Despite the relatively small number of Somalis currently on TPS, the symbolism of the move loomed large. For Omar, it was simply the latest chapter in what she privately refers to as her “Political Stress Trilogy,” a saga that also includes “Why Are They Like This?” and “Do They Ever Get Tired?”
Rumors of Omar’s possible departure spread quickly. By noon, three news outlets had published think pieces, TikTok teens had created packing-montage videos on her behalf, and Facebook was fully convinced she had already accepted a position as a senior advisor to the Canadian Parliament. One uncle in Toronto even uploaded a video offering his guest room “for Ilhan or any American who’s tired of nonsense.”
Canadian officials, unsurprisingly polite, chimed in within hours. One spokesperson gently reminded everyone that Canada “does not typically hire U.S. congresswomen,” but added that the country “welcomes well-behaved people, provided they own a winter coat thicker than a waffle.”
Prime Minister Trudeau, approached by reporters during his morning jog, shrugged and said he admired Omar’s resilience and added that she would “probably enjoy the tranquility of a political system where people argue mostly about milk prices.”
Meanwhile, the American internet did what it always does—overreact. Progressives joked that they would follow Omar across the border. Conservatives declared they would help her pack. Libertarians wondered whether Canada had fewer taxes. And one confused account tagged the wrong Ilhan Omar—an accountant from Ohio—demanding she stay in the U.S. “and fight for our freedoms.” The Ohio Ilhan simply replied, “I do payroll. Please stop.”
Omar’s staff, sensing the public enthusiasm for her hypothetical relocation, reportedly began drafting “contingency plans.” Plan A was a quiet, dignified move involving a simple road trip across the Minnesota border and a polite greeting to Canadian border agents. Plan B was more theatrical: Omar walking into Canada while a Bluetooth speaker played Celine Dion. Plan C involved jet skis and was quickly dismissed as “too Florida-coded.”
Airlines, never ones to miss a marketing opportunity, jumped on the trend. One carrier announced a limited-time “Is Canada Hiring?” fare sale, encouraging Americans to “escape the noise and enjoy complimentary snow exposure.” Another airline offered a promotion called “Escape to Anywhere North,” which included a free pretzel and a warning about geese.
Back in Congress, reactions varied. Some colleagues teased Omar about whether she was planning to defect. Others asked if she could bring back some Canadian chocolates. One representative reportedly joked, “If you can get us Canadian healthcare in your suitcase, I might come with you.” Omar laughed but did not respond directly, fueling even more speculation.
In Somali neighborhoods across Minnesota, reactions were a mix of amusement and shared exhaustion. Community elders reminded people not to panic and pointed out that “Ilhan says dramatic things sometimes,” while teens immediately began designing T-shirts featuring Omar wearing a Mountie hat. Local coffee shops reported a spike in customers ordering “Canadian-style” drinks, even though no one could define what that meant.
A few analysts tried to frame Omar’s remark in serious political terms, arguing that it reflected the frustration many immigrant communities feel when their existence is turned into a political talking point. But most people seemed more focused on the fact that, for the first time in a long time, a political story was funny rather than frightening. Even some who disagree with Omar acknowledged that the idea of her casually relocating to Canada was “objectively hilarious.”
For her part, Omar eventually addressed the speculation with her usual blend of humor and bluntness. Speaking to a small group of reporters in the Capitol basement, she clarified that she was not officially planning to leave the United States but added that “every American deserves the right to at least fantasize about moving to Canada once a month.” She then laughed, saying she had simply expressed what millions of Americans feel every time they open Twitter or check grocery prices.
Still, she didn’t entirely rule out the possibility. She admitted that the idea of peaceful politics, universal healthcare, and maple-scented air held a certain appeal, especially on days when congressional debates seemed to last longer than the Canadian winter. When asked what kind of job she imagined herself doing in Canada, she said she’d be open to anything from teaching civics to “becoming a professional hiker if that’s a thing.”
By late afternoon, the frenzy had died down. Omar returned to committee meetings, Canadian officials returned to being polite somewhere in Ottawa, and Twitter found new things to argue about, including whether raccoons should be considered “tiny bears.” But for a brief moment, the idea of Ilhan Omar packing a suitcase and dutifully researching Canadian job openings united the internet in shared absurdity.
And if the political winds shift again, who knows? Maybe Omar really will stand at the Minnesota-Canada border, breathe in the frosty air, and whisper the question that started it all—“So… is Canada hiring or what?”