She Was Ripped From Her Car and Detained, but She's Not Done With ICE

"Rahman was headed to a doctor's appointment that morning-treatment for a brain injury she had gotten a couple of years back. On the way to the appointment, she got caught up in an immigration raid. Agents surrounded her car and gave her contradictory instructions. Eventually, they smashed out her passenger-side window, cut her seat belt, and dragged her into the street. She tried to tell the agents she was disabled, but it didn't matter. They took her to the Whipple building, which had become the center for immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis."

"In the months since this incident, Rahman has testified in front of Congress, attended the State of the Union, and become a symbol of sorts. A few weeks ago, she filed a federal tort claim against the Department of Homeland Security. She's asking for money to replace the window agents smashed and to pay for her ongoing medical care. But she's also asking other victims of immigration violence to follow her lead. It's part of a bigger plan."

""Every case that's filed against them is an opportunity to learn how they actually function," says Rahman."

Aliya Rahman, who keeps a low public profile, became widely known after being detained during an immigration raid in Minneapolis while traveling to a medical appointment for a prior brain injury. Agents surrounded her car, issued contradictory instructions, smashed her passenger-side window, cut her seat belt, and dragged her into the street despite her attempts to explain she was disabled. She was taken to the Whipple building, used for immigration enforcement operations. After the incident, she testified before Congress, attended the State of the Union as a guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar, and was detained again during that time. She filed a federal tort claim seeking compensation for property damage and ongoing medical care, and urged other victims to pursue similar legal action.

Read at Slate Magazine