Outrage After Disabled Woman Detained by Immigration Officers

Fri Jan 16 2026 04:13:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A U.S. citizen, Aliya Rahman, shares her harrowing experience after being forcibly removed from her car by immigration agents outside a medical facility in Minneapolis, sparking significant public outcry and raising questions about the ongoing immigration tactics in the area.

In a troubling incident captured on video, Aliya Rahman, a disabled U.S. citizen, was detained by immigration officers while on her way to a medical appointment in Minneapolis. The video of her arrest has gone viral, leading to widespread scrutiny of the aggressive tactics used by federal agents during an ongoing immigration crackdown. Rahman alleged that she was denied medical care while in detention, and her experience highlights the growing tension surrounding immigration enforcement in the region.

A U.S. citizen on her way to a medical appointment in Minneapolis was forcibly dragged from her vehicle and detained by federal immigration officers, according to her statement released Thursday. A video of the arrest has since gone viral, garnering millions of views on social media.

Aliya Rahman shared that she was brought to a detention center where she was denied medical assistance and lost consciousness. The Department of Homeland Security characterized her as an agitator who obstructed ICE agents carrying out arrests in the area.

This incident marks just one of many recent episodes highlighting an escalating immigration crackdown across Minneapolis. Federal immigration agents have been actively executing arrests amidst ongoing protests, with local officials describing these actions as akin to a “federal invasion.”

Dragged from her car

Rahman was en route to a routine appointment at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center when she encountered the immigration agents at an intersection. Footage of the event shows immigration officers giving commands amidst a chorus of car horns and protests.

The video depicts an agent smashing Rahman’s car window, while others cut her seatbelt and forcibly remove her from the vehicle, carrying her to an ICE vehicle despite her assertions regarding her disability.

A spokesperson from the DHS disputed Rahman’s version of events, alleging she had ignored multiple commands to move her vehicle, and stated that she was arrested alongside several others identified as agitators.

Barrage of viral videos draw scrutiny

Rahman’s arrest is among numerous viral videos recently circulating that show the intense confrontations between immigration officials and civilians. Common themes include protesters attempting to intervene while agents break windows, issue pepper spray, and detain individuals without clear explanations.

Witness testimonies indicate a heightened state of vigilance within the community, with individuals like nurse Monica Bicking expressing their anxiety over the constant threat of immigration raids.

In her statement, Rahman recounted her ordeal, noting that she felt fortunate to be alive after the agents treated her roughly despite her condition. She reported being denied medical care until she lost consciousness and ultimately received treatment for injuries related to assault upon reaching the hospital.

Rahman's experience has ignited discussions about the treatment of immigrants and citizens alike within this fraught climate and raised critical questions about law enforcement practices moving forward.