Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) lawmakers are calling for urgent accountability after a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, Nasra Ahmed, testified that she was wrongfully arrested, violently assaulted, and detained for two days by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
In a statement shared on Instagram (@mnhousedfl), the Minnesota House DFL described Ahmed’s experience as “unacceptable and heartbreaking,” adding: “This cannot keep happening. ICE needs to get out.”
“I was kidnapped”: testimony details alleged abuse
In an emotional public testimony, Ahmed recounted what she described as a traumatic encounter with ICE agents, despite having no criminal record and being a U.S. citizen.
“They kidnapped me, they took me, they arrested and detained me for two days,” Ahmed said. “I was put in county jail.”
According to her account, ICE agents approached her, demanded identification, and during the interaction, one agent allegedly used a racial slur against her. She said agents then pushed and tackled her with significant force, leaving her with a concussion and ongoing physical pain.
“My body still hurts,” she said. “It’s really hard for me to speak because of that concussion.”
Ahmed said she was shackled with handcuffs and leg restraints and detained alongside another woman — a Native American U.S. citizen — who also appeared to have been injured during her arrest.
“She had gashes on her face… blood on her jeans,” Ahmed recalled, adding that the woman was terrified for her life and feared for the safety of her dog during the incident. “We were both crying together… I’ll never forget the fear that we both felt in our hearts that day.”
Lawmakers cite broader concerns over ICE conduct
In a previous post, Minnesota House DFL lawmakers stated that Ahmed was handcuffed, called racial slurs, and tackled “so hard she got a concussion,” stressing that she has no criminal history.
“We cannot keep letting stories like this happen — in Minnesota or anywhere,” the caucus said. “ICE needs to leave.”
The incident has intensified scrutiny of ICE enforcement practices, particularly amid growing concerns nationwide over mistaken identity arrests, the treatment of U.S. citizens, and allegations of excessive force during immigration operations.
Calls for investigation and reform
Civil rights advocates and lawmakers are expected to press for an independent investigation into Ahmed’s detention, including whether ICE agents violated constitutional protections against unlawful seizure and excessive force.
While ICE has not publicly responded to the allegations, the case is likely to fuel renewed debate over the agency’s role, oversight mechanisms, and accountability when enforcement actions involve U.S. citizens.
For Minnesota lawmakers, Ahmed’s testimony underscores what they describe as a systemic problem rather than an isolated incident — one they say demands immediate action.
