Racial Profiling Claim Backfires

A U.S. citizen who claimed ICE agents “kidnapped” her now faces federal felony assault charges after the Department of Homeland Security accused her of attacking law enforcement during what she described as racial profiling.

Story Snapshot

Nasra Ahmed, 23-year-old U.S.-born Somali American, detained by ICE for two days without charges on January 14, 2026
DHS counters with felony assault allegations after Ahmed described detention as kidnapping with racial slurs and violence
Incident part of “Operation Metro Surge” that has wrongfully detained at least 12 U.S. citizens since December 2025
Minnesota’s Somali community reports widespread fear as ICE enforcement intensifies in Twin Cities neighborhoods

ICE Operation Ensnares American Citizen

Nasra Ahmed was detained by ICE agents on January 14, 2026, in a St. Paul apartment complex parking lot during “Operation Metro Surge,” an enforcement initiative targeting the Minnesota metro area since December 2025. The 23-year-old U.S. citizen claims she was shoved to the ground, causing a concussion, and subjected to a racial slur while agents pursued two Somali men. Bystander video captured masked ICE agents surrounding Ahmed on the ground. She spent two days in Sherburne County Jail before release without any charges filed against her.

Conflicting Accounts Emerge

At a January 21 press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol, Ahmed appeared with visible bandages and described the encounter as a “kidnapping,” stating agents “used a lot of violence” against her. Her father Mohamed Ahmed emphasized that such treatment should not happen to anyone. However, later that same day, DHS issued a statement accusing Ahmed of committing felony assault on federal agents, with officials vowing to prosecute anyone who attacks law enforcement. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino denied racial profiling claims, asserting operations were “lawful” and “targeted” at serious threats.

Pattern of Wrongful Detentions Documented

Ahmed’s case represents one incident in a troubling pattern tracked by citizen advocacy group MN Ice Witness, which has documented at least 12 U.S. citizens wrongfully detained since December 2025. On January 18, Chongly Scott Thao was detained at gunpoint in St. Paul and released without charges. January 11 saw Rogelio Jimenez dragged from his vehicle in a mistaken identity case. Two American Target employees were held at gunpoint in Richfield on January 8, while a naturalized citizen required hospitalization after detention on January 6. Despite these documented cases, ICE has ignored data requests from local officials and media.

Community Lives Under Cloud of Fear

Minnesota state representatives have condemned the enforcement tactics as systematic harassment targeting the Twin Cities’ Somali population. DFL Representative Samakab Hussein labeled Ahmed’s detention “unjust” and noted she received no legal representation during her two-day incarceration. Representative Mohamud Noor, who shared arrest video footage, called for an end to “intimidation” and “harassment” of residents. The broader Somali American community reports paralyzing fear that prevents normal activities like work and shopping, with families describing lasting trauma from aggressive ICE patrols in their neighborhoods.

The federal government’s decision to pursue assault charges against a citizen who claims she was violently detained without cause raises serious questions about accountability and due process. Ahmed had no criminal record prior to this incident, and the rush to prosecute her after she publicly described her ordeal appears designed to silence criticism of enforcement overreach. While immigration enforcement remains a legitimate government function, detaining American citizens without charges and then retaliating with felony accusations when they speak out undermines constitutional protections and erodes public trust in law enforcement institutions.