Minneapolis Resident Sues DHS Over ICE Excessive Force

When I first read about Aliya Rahman’s experience in Minneapolis—being dragged from her car by ICE officers whereas on her way to a medical appointment—I couldn’t help but think about how easily this could happen in any American city where federal enforcement operations intersect with daily life. The details are stark: a shattered window, claims of mockery toward her disability and autism, denial of medical care in custody, and a federal tort filed against the Department of Homeland Security over excessive force and constitutional violations. Rahman, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2024 and identifies as disabled and autistic, says officers ignored her disclosures and later left her unconscious before she woke in a hospital. Her attorneys, including Jessica Gingold of the MacArthur Justice Center, describe battering, assault, and medical negligence—all allegedly occurring during “Operation Metro Surge,” a DHS initiative that flooded Minnesota with agents earlier this year.

This isn’t just a Minneapolis story, though. The ripple effects of operations like Metro Surge are felt in cities nationwide where immigrant communities live alongside heightened federal scrutiny. Take Chicago, for example—a city with deep-rooted advocacy networks, a large Latinx population, and a history of tension between local communities and federal immigration enforcement. In neighborhoods like Little Village or Pilsen, residents know all too well how quickly a routine trip to the doctor, grocery store, or L train stop can escalate when enforcement vehicles appear without warning. Rahman’s case adds weight to ongoing concerns about due process, disability accommodations during arrests, and the psychological toll of such encounters—especially for those with pre-existing conditions like TBI or autism spectrum disorder.

What makes this particularly salient for Chicagoans is the city’s role as a transportation and healthcare hub. Rahman was en route to a medical appointment when intercepted—a scenario familiar to anyone navigating the city’s complex transit system while managing health needs. Imagine similar incidents near Stroger Hospital, along Kedzie Avenue, or outside the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, where veterans with disabilities routinely seek care. The intersection of federal enforcement actions and access to healthcare creates a uniquely dangerous dynamic, particularly when individuals are denied medication or medical attention while in custody—a claim central to Rahman’s tort filing.

Beyond the immediate physical and emotional harm, there are second-order consequences: erosion of trust in public institutions, reluctance to seek medical help due to fear of detention, and economic strain from unexpected medical bills or lost wages. Rahman’s lawyers are seeking reimbursement for medical costs tied to her traumatic brain injury, torn shoulder tendons, and PTSD diagnosis—expenses that could devastate any household without adequate savings or insurance. In a city where nearly one in five residents lives below the poverty line, such financial shocks can push families into housing instability or food insecurity.

Historically, Chicago has been a flashpoint for immigration-related civil rights struggles. From the 1980s sanctuary movement to modern-day protests against ICE raids in Back of the Yards, the city has repeatedly pushed back against perceived overreach. Rahman’s case fits into this lineage, offering a potential legal avenue to challenge tactics used during operations like Metro Surge. If successful, her claim could set precedents regarding disability rights during federal detentions—especially relevant given Chicago’s sizable disabled population and its infrastructure challenges, from uneven sidewalks to inaccessible CTA stations in older neighborhoods.

Given my background in community resilience and public safety analysis, if this trend impacts you in Chicago, here are the three types of local professionals you demand to know about:

• Civil Rights Attorneys Specializing in Federal Tort Claims: Glance for lawyers licensed in the Northern District of Illinois with documented experience filing Bivens actions or FTCA claims against federal agencies. Prioritize those who’ve worked with organizations like the MacArthur Justice Center or the National Immigrant Justice Center, and who understand the nuances of proving excessive force and deliberate indifference to medical needs in federal custody.
• Disability Advocates with Expertise in TBI and Neurodiversity: Seek professionals affiliated with groups like Access Living or the Brain Injury Association of Illinois who can document how autism or traumatic brain injury affects communication during high-stress encounters. Their assessments are vital for establishing whether officers ignored known disabilities—a key element in Rahman’s claim.
• Community-Based Trauma Therapists: Prioritize licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) or psychologists offering sliding-scale services who specialize in immigration-related trauma and police violence. Ideal candidates will have experience with populations affected by federal enforcement and can provide documentation for PTSD claims tied to detention incidents.

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