Minneapolis, Minnesota - A US citizen claims he was recently assaulted and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials simply because he allegedly looks Somali.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Mubashir – a 20-year-old Minneapolis resident who identified himself only by his first name – recounted the ordeal.
On Tuesday, as he was enjoying his lunch break at work, a masked man allegedly ran toward him, tackled him, and slammed him into the door of a nearby restaurant.
He claimed that the supposed officer never identified himself or said anything like, "ICE, stop."
"I feel like I was getting assaulted, I was getting kidnapped, and that's exactly what it was," Mubashir said.
Though he told the officers that he was a citizen, Mubashir claims he was put in a headlock, thrown into a vehicle, and taken to a detention facility several miles away.
He was finally released hours later after the authorities finally allowed him to show them his passport. When he asked them if he could be taken back to where he was arrested, he claims that he was told, "No, you have to walk in the snow."
During the press conference, videos captured by locals of the arrest were played on screens, further corroborating Mubashir's account.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara apologized to Mubashir, describing the incident as "embarrassing," and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said it was a "clear violation of law and the Constitution."
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz steps up against Kristi Noem and DHS
Mubashir's story comes as President Donald Trump – who has made a habit of publicly denigrating Somalis – and his administration have implemented an aggressive immigration agenda since the beginning of his second term, deploying ICE agents across the country to round up undocumented individuals.
Their effort has resulted in thousands of arrests and deportations, many of which have been carried out without due process. Critics have also called attention to ICE having very little oversight by DHS, as they have allowed agents to cover their faces and use violence to carry out their orders.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz penned a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem notifying her of the detention of US citizens in his state, and urged her to launch an investigation.
"The forcefulness, lack of communication, and unlawful practices displayed by federal agents will not be tolerated in Minnesota," Walz wrote.