U.S. Citizen Dragged from Car, Detained by ICE Amid Immigration Crackdown

Fri Jan 16 2026 04:32:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A shocking incident in Minneapolis where Aliya Rahman, a U.S. citizen, was forcibly pulled from her vehicle by immigration officers while on her way to a medical appointment has raised concerns about the intensifying immigration enforcement in the area. The incident has gone viral, highlighting ongoing tensions and protests surrounding ICE operations.

Aliya Rahman, en route to a medical appointment, was forcibly detained by immigration officers in Minneapolis, an incident captured in a viral video. Rahman claims she was denied medical care while in custody, eventually losing consciousness. This event is part of a larger pattern of increasing ICE operations and protests in the area, drawing significant public scrutiny. Videos depicting aggressive tactics by immigration agents during these operations have proliferated online, prompting widespread outrage and calls for accountability.

A U.S. citizen on her way to a medical appointment in Minneapolis was dragged out of her car and detained by immigration officers, according to a statement released by the woman on Thursday, after a video of her arrest drew millions of views on social media.

Aliya Rahman said she was brought to a detention center where she was denied medical care and lost consciousness. The Department of Homeland Security said she was an agitator who was obstructing ICE agents conducting arrests in the area.

The video is part of an escalating immigration crackdown across the midwestern city, as thousands of federal agents execute arrests amid protests, described by local officials as a 'federal invasion.'

Dragged from her car

Rahman said she was on her way to a routine appointment when she encountered federal immigration agents. Video shows agents shouting commands over the chaos of car horns and protests. Agents smashed her window, cut her seatbelt, and removed her from the vehicle while she explained, 'I’m disabled trying to go to the doctor.'

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security disputed her account, alleging she ignored commands, and noted that she was arrested alongside others labeled as agitators.

Barrage of viral videos draw scrutiny

Rahman’s incident is one of many recent viral videos depicting immigration enforcement activities that have raised public concerns. These videos commonly showcase aggressive tactics, such as officers breaking vehicle windows and using pepper spray. Protesters have begun documenting these events more vigilantly.

In one shocking video, heavily armed agents used a battering ram to enter a family home. Another depicts the detention of U.S. citizens at a Target store, inciting fear within immigrant communities.

Monica Bicking, a nurse who witnessed a violent arrest, described the environment as one of hypervigilance among the community as they seek to protect their neighbors. 'We’re looking for ICE, trying to support our neighbors who are now just on lockdown,' she stated.

‘I thought I was going to die’

After her ordeal, Rahman expressed relief at being alive, stating that she was treated for injuries consistent with assault. She described her time in detention as terrifying, recalling, 'Masked agents dragged me from my car and bound me like an animal.' She thanked emergency staff for their support, saying, 'They gave me hope when I thought I was going to die.'