Aliya Rahman, a Minneapolis woman whose arrest by federal agents was captured in viral videos, has sued the federal government. She says she was pulled from her car during Operation Metro Surge, despite telling agents she was a U.S. citizen, and alleges excessive force and mistreatment in custody. DHS says it will defend the case and previously said she was arrested for obstructing officers. Rahman was never criminally charged.
A Blocked Street Interrupted Rahman’s Drive to a Medical Appointment
Aliya Rahman was driving to a doctor’s appointment on Jan. 13 when she reached a federal agent blockade near Park Avenue and East 34th Street in south Minneapolis. Agents had closed the street while carrying out an immigration arrest, and vehicles and protesters were not being allowed through. Rahman’s lawsuit says she encountered conflicting directions from agents about whether to keep driving or get out. She says she was also concerned about the safety of people nearby.
Agents Said Rahman Was Interfering, While She Says the Instructions Were Confusing
Federal authorities later accused Rahman of impeding or interfering with officers because she did not drive away from the scene. Rahman says agents shouted contradictory commands, telling her both to leave her car and to drive off. That difference is central to the dispute over why officers detained her. She is a U.S. citizen and was never criminally charged. The allegation that she interfered with officers came from the federal side; Rahman’s lawsuit disputes the circumstances and legality of the arrest.
Videos Show Agents Breaking the Window and Pulling Rahman From the Car
Footage of the encounter spread widely online and drew national attention. Videos show agents smashing Rahman’s car window, pulling her out and carrying her face down while she was handcuffed. The lawsuit also says agents cut her seat belt with a knife and that pulling her arms injured her shoulders. The footage documents the visible events, but the legal case will address whether the agents’ actions were lawful and whether the force used was justified.
Rahman’s Lawsuit Alleges Excessive Force and False Imprisonment
Rahman’s case accuses federal agents of excessive force, assault, battery, false arrest and imprisonment, among other claims. She argues that the arrest violated her rights and seeks monetary damages, though the amount has not been specified. These are allegations in a civil lawsuit, not findings by a court. Her legal team says it wants to identify the masked agents involved and examine the broader systems behind the encounter. The case will give the government an opportunity to respond to the claims.
She Says Agents Ignored Her Disability and Medical Needs in Custody
Rahman lives with autism and disabilities related to a traumatic brain injury. Her lawsuit says she told officers about those conditions and asked for accommodations and medical assistance while detained at the Whipple Federal Building. It alleges she developed severe head pain, blurred vision and slurred speech, then lost consciousness in her cell. Her attorneys say officers waited about 30 minutes to call 911 after her cellmate reported she was unresponsive. Rahman says she woke in a hospital emergency room.
DHS Says It Will Defend the Case, Which Now Moves Through Court
Rahman filed an administrative claim with federal agencies in April seeking compensation, and her lawyers say the government did not respond within the six-month period before she filed suit. The Department of Homeland Security says it is aware of the lawsuit and will defend itself in court. The agency previously said Rahman was arrested for obstructing federal officers and denied that she was refused medical care. The government has 60 days to respond to the lawsuit; the court process will determine how the competing accounts and allegations are assessed.
