Minneapolis, MN – January 20, 2026 – A disturbing video circulating widely on social media and featured in national broadcasts shows federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents forcibly pulling Aliya Rahman, a U.S. citizen, from her vehicle during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. The incident, which occurred on January 13, has drawn sharp criticism from Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who described the footage as deeply upsetting.
Rahman, who was en route to a routine appointment at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center, encountered ICE agents blocking traffic amid arrests in the area. According to accounts from Rahman and her legal representatives, she was overwhelmed by conflicting commands from masked federal officers. Video footage captures agents smashing her passenger-side window, cutting her seatbelt, and dragging her out through the driver’s side door as she repeatedly states she is disabled and autistic, explaining she was trying to reach her doctor’s appointment.
“I’m disabled. I’m trying to go to the doctor up there. That’s why I didn’t move,” Rahman can be heard saying in the recording. Agents then carried her by her arms and legs to an ICE vehicle. Rahman later stated she felt “lucky to be alive” after the encounter, describing being “bound like an animal” despite informing officers of her disabilities. She reported being denied immediate medical care while in custody, eventually losing consciousness before receiving hospital treatment.
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the agents’ actions, stating Rahman was an “agitator” who ignored multiple commands to move her vehicle from the scene and was obstructing federal operations. No charges have been filed against her related to the arrest, according to her attorney.
The incident took place just blocks and days after the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, by an ICE officer on January 7 during a separate enforcement action. That event has fueled widespread protests against the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown in the city, with local leaders decrying what they describe as a “federal invasion.”
In a segment aired on CBS’s 60 Minutes, Chief O’Hara was shown the video of Rahman’s removal for the first time. Visibly shaken, he reacted with dismay: “Oh my God… It pisses me off to see that, to see men doing that to a woman who’s disabled. It pisses me off. If those cops worked for me, they’d have a problem right now.” O’Hara emphasized that he did not know the initial reason for approaching the vehicle but condemned the apparent handling of the situation, highlighting his department’s training in de-escalation techniques.
O’Hara has repeatedly expressed concerns about escalating tensions between ICE operations and the Minneapolis community, warning prior to recent events that such aggressive tactics could lead to tragedy and further erode public trust in law enforcement. He has noted that local police responded to some scenes but disengaged once determining no immediate violence or threats were present.
ICE officials, including Marcos Charles overseeing Enforcement and Removal Operations, have maintained that agents acted lawfully, providing repeated warnings and responding professionally amid interference from crowds. The agency has reported increased attacks on officers nationwide tied to these enforcement efforts.
Rahman’s case, represented by the MacArthur Justice Center, is expected to pursue accountability for what her lawyers call a “violent attack” and unjustified use of force. The episode has amplified national debate over federal immigration tactics, particularly in sanctuary-leaning cities like Minneapolis, where community-police relations remain fragile in the wake of past high-profile incidents.
As protests continue and federal operations persist, Chief O’Hara has urged calm and lawful responses while criticizing what he sees as a lack of accountability from federal partners.
