ICE Detains Minnesota Citizens, Leaving Them Rattled: NPR Reports

Recent incidents involving federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have left many Minnesota citizens feeling anxious and unsafe. These events have raised concerns about racial profiling and the treatment of U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement operations.

Detention Incident in Minneapolis

On January 13, 2023, Aliya Rahman, a U.S. citizen and Bangladeshi-American, was apprehended by ICE agents while en route to a doctor’s appointment. The chaotic scene unfolded near a protest against an ICE operation, leading to Rahman’s detainment. Despite her citizenship, she was forcibly removed from her vehicle and taken into custody.

Health Concerns and Aftermath

During her detention at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Rahman experienced a severe headache and requested medical assistance but did not receive care for over an hour. After collapsing, she was transported to a downtown hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with a concussion.

Rahman expressed lingering fear from her encounter with ICE. “I do not feel safe in my own home or driving on these streets,” she stated. Her experience is not isolated, as other U.S. citizens in Minnesota have faced similar encounters.

Other Citizens Detained

• ChongLy Scott Thao: A Hmong man who was taken from his home in minimal clothing and later photographed in a remote location.
• Mubashir Khalif Hussen: A Somali-American who described his arrest as aggressive, where he was tackled and treated without regard for his citizenship.

Both Thao and Hussen have shared their traumatic experiences publicly, highlighting fears of racial profiling in ICE operations. Hussen is pursuing legal action against the Trump administration, alleging systemic discrimination based on race.

Public Response and Legal Perspectives

The Department of Homeland Security has rejected claims of racial profiling, calling them “disgusting” and “reckless.” However, experts like Walter Olson from the Cato Institute suggest these actions may indicate a broader pattern of constitutional rights violations.

As courts have previously ruled against ICE operations for lacking reasonable suspicion, concerns over the potential for discrimination persist. The recent Supreme Court ruling allowing “apparent ethnicity” as a criterion for reasonable suspicion complicates these issues further.

Community Reactions

Many residents have reported feeling unsettled by ICE’s aggressive approach. For instance, Luis Escoto, owner of El Taquito Taco Shop in West St. Paul, witnessed agents surrounding his wife’s car as she stopped for supplies. Despite confirming her U.S. citizenship, Escoto expressed a newfound anxiety regarding the validity of their citizenship in light of these interactions.

Escoto recalled how his perception of citizenship has changed. Once assured by a judge that no documentation was necessary, he now feels uneasy. “It doesn’t seem so true anymore,” he lamented.

Conclusion

The recent detainment of Minnesota citizens by ICE has sparked significant concern in the community. As citizens question their safety and treatment under federal immigration policies, calls for reform and accountability continue to grow, underscoring the complexities of immigration enforcement in the United States.