Aliya Rahman, a 43-year-old autistic woman with a traumatic brain injury, says she was dragged from her car by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis, an ordeal that has since led to death threats and threats of sexual violence against her.
Rahman, who was driving to a medical appointment, became caught in an ICE operation. She told The Independent she struggled to process the agents' commands due to her autism-related auditory issues. Despite yelling that she was disabled and autistic, agents pulled her from her vehicle. Video of the incident has been widely shared online.
After her arrest, Rahman was taken to the Whipple Building detention centre, where she says she suffered a medical emergency and was denied care before blacking out and being hospitalised. She was later released without charge. The Department of Homeland Security described her as an “agitator” who ignored commands.
Since the incident, Rahman has received a barrage of hate messages, including death threats and threats of sexual violence. She said the experience has been traumatic, particularly as an autistic person who already faces heightened risks in interactions with law enforcement.
The arrest occurred amid a heightened ICE presence in Minneapolis, following a welfare fraud scandal. Two fatal shootings by federal agents in the area shortly before Rahman's detention have further inflamed tensions.
