Somali-American Activist Faces Federal Charges Following Viral ICE Protest
A Somali-American woman who gained national attention for her powerful statement that Somali identity is "more than bananas with rice" during a press conference has been arrested on federal charges. Nasra Ahmed, 23, was detained in Minneapolis on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Viral Moment and Allegations of Mistreatment
Ahmed first captured public attention last week after a video of her went viral. She had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for two days before being released without charges. On January 21, she addressed the Minnesota State Capitol press briefing room with visible bandages on her head, claiming "I got kidnapped by ICE."
According to her account reported by CBS News, Ahmed sustained a concussion during her arrest. She alleged that ICE agents shoved her to the ground and directed racial slurs at her. "I'm Somali, I'm proud to be Somali," she declared during her emotional testimony. "To me, being Somali isn't just eating bananas with rice. It's very hard to describe what it means to be Somali and what it means to be American. It's kind of like a cultural fusion, like the bananas and rice."
Federal Crackdown in Minneapolis
Attorney General Bondi confirmed Ahmed's arrest as part of a broader operation in Minneapolis, posting on social media platform X that federal agents had arrested 16 individuals in Minnesota. "I am on the ground in Minneapolis today," Bondi wrote. "Federal agents have arrested 16 Minnesota rioters for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement — people who have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents. We expect more arrests to come."
Bondi's statement concluded with a strong political message: "I've said it before, and I'll say it again: NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law." The Attorney General shared photographs and names of fifteen other individuals detained alongside Ahmed in Minneapolis.
Background of the Minneapolis Protests
Minneapolis has experienced significant unrest following the recent killing of Alex Pretti, 37, by Border Patrol agents. While officers claimed Pretti approached them with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, initial official reports suggest he had been disarmed before being shot in the back, with no mention of the weapon being drawn.
In response, protesters have taken to the streets carrying signs reading "Justice for Alex" and "F*** ICE," demanding the removal of immigration enforcement from their city. The Trump administration deployed ICE to Minneapolis in December following fraud convictions involving some Somali immigrants.
Complex Immigration Context
Minneapolis hosts the largest Somali population in the United States. Although ICE operations appear to target this diaspora community, the majority of Somali residents in the city are actually US citizens. Ahmed herself was born in the United States and reportedly had no prior criminal record before her recent encounters with federal authorities.
During her earlier press conference, Ahmed described being arrested alongside another US citizen while federal agents were pursuing two Somali men. "I'll never forget the fear we had in our hearts that day," she recounted emotionally. The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice have been contacted for comment regarding these developments.
