Woman in Viral ICE Video Speaks Out for the First Time: ‘I’m Disabled!’

The woman seen in a viral video being pulled from her car by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis has spoken publicly for the first time, disputing official claims about why she was detained.

Aliya Rahman told CNN she was on her way to a doctor’s appointment when ICE agents stopped her vehicle last week. She firmly denied being involved in anti-ICE protests, countering claims made by the Department of Homeland Security.

The incident unfolded last week amid intense protests in Minneapolis. The dramatic video quickly made the rounds online. It shows masked agents opening Rahman’s car door, slicing through her seatbelt, and forcibly dragging her out of the vehicle.

DHS Calls Her an Agitator, but She Tells a Different Story

After the arrest, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement labeling Rahman an “agitator.” DHS claimed she ignored multiple commands to move her vehicle away from the protest scene and was arrested for obstruction.

But Rahman told CNN’s Laura Coates on Monday night that she had no involvement with the demonstrations and was simply trying to get to her doctor’s appointment.

In the widely shared clip, Rahman repeats the words, “I’m disabled,” as ICE agents pull her from the car. In another moment, she adds, “I’m disabled, trying to go to the doctor up there, that’s why I didn’t move.”

‘You See Me Looking and Trying to Identify Which Lips Are Talking’

Rahman told CNN she is autistic and experiences auditory sorting challenges, a condition that makes it hard to understand speech when several people are speaking at once. She said the chaotic noise and confusion made it impossible to comprehend what the officers were saying.

“You see me looking and trying to identify which lips are talking to me,” Rahman explained, noting that this became nearly impossible because the ICE agents wore face coverings that concealed their mouths.

Footage of the arrest also shows one agent smashing her passenger-side window. Other agents then sliced through her seatbelt and pulled her out through the driver’s side door. Several officers carried her by her arms and legs toward an ICE vehicle.

Rahman said she was taken to an ICE detention facility following her arrest. While in custody, she said she endured “dehumanization practices,” including being denied disability accommodations such as her walking cane.

She said she struggled to stay upright without assistance and repeatedly asked for a wheelchair, only to be ignored. According to her, a staff member later acknowledged that one might have been available. Eventually, Rahman said she lost consciousness in her cell and was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.

Legal Action May Be on the Horizon

Rahman’s attorney, Alexa Van Brunt, revealed that they have not yet been informed whether Rahman will face formal charges in connection with the incident.

Van Brunt said federal agents violated standards for interacting with civilians in vehicles and failed to follow protocols for engaging with people who have disabilities.

“We’ve been collecting video, we’ve been collecting evidence, we’re talking to witnesses, and we’re investigating our options for legal recourse,” Van Brunt said.

Crackdown Chaos Escalates as Feds Flood Minneapolis Streets

The arrest unfolded during an intensified federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Thousands of federal agents have been conducting arrests throughout the city, sparking large-scale demonstrations and near-constant confrontations near active enforcement sites.

Video of Rahman’s harrowing encounter surfaced amid a wave of online documentation capturing the crackdown. Her footage joined a flood of disturbing clips showing tense standoffs between federal agents and protesters on Minneapolis streets.

Additional recordings from the scene showed agitators gathering around federal vehicles. Some protesters shouted commands at Rahman’s stopped car, while others yelled at ICE agents as they physically restrained her.

Moments after Rahman was pulled from her vehicle, protesters clad in dark clothing and gas masks were seen striking federal vehicles. Agents responded with force — firing tear gas, pepper balls, and pepper spray — to disperse the crowd and regain control of the intersection.

Deadly Backdrop Heightens Tensions on the Ground

The confrontation came less than a week after a separate fatal incident involving ICE agents in Minneapolis. In that case, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot while allegedly trying to block a federal immigration operation.

Rahman’s attorney later cited the deadly shooting when describing the danger Rahman faced at the time of her arrest. According to the attorney, Rahman was trapped between aggressive protesters and advancing federal agents, with no clear or safe path for moving her vehicle.

Van Brunt said Rahman believed remaining stationary was the safest possible choice. Moving the car, she feared, could have resulted in claims that she was trying to harm officers — especially after the recent fatality.

Rahman said she had simply been on her way to a routine appointment at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center when she encountered federal agents at the intersection.

The graphic footage of Rahman’s arrest has triggered a wave of attention online. Her account now stands in direct conflict with the DHS version of events.