She Was Ripped From Her Car and Detained, but She’s Not Done With ICE |
Aliya Rahman is a very private person. She doesn’t even post on social media. But now there are many videos of her online, from Jan. 13 of this year, when Operation Metro Surge was going strong in Minneapolis.
Rahman was headed to a doctor’s appointment that morning—treatment for a brain injury she had gotten a couple of years back. On the way to the appointment, she got caught up in an immigration raid. Agents surrounded her car and gave her contradictory instructions. Eventually, they smashed out her passenger-side window, cut her seat belt, and dragged her into the street. She tried to tell the agents she was disabled, but it didn’t matter. They took her to the Whipple building, which had become the center for immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
In the months since this incident, Rahman has testified in front of Congress, attended the State of the Union, and become a symbol of sorts. A few weeks ago, she filed a federal tort claim against the Department of Homeland Security. She’s asking for money to replace the window agents smashed and to pay for her ongoing medical care. But she’s also asking other victims of immigration violence to follow her lead. It’s part of a bigger plan.
“Every case that’s filed against them is an opportunity to learn how they actually function,” says Rahman.
On a recent episode of What Next, host Mary Harris spoke to Rahman about how her life has changed since her detention, and how she’s trying to turn her viral moment into a movement. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Mary Harris: Part of your story is that since this initial detention, you have kept speaking out. You testified in front of Congress. You showed up at the State of the Union, where you were a guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar. And actually, while you were at the State of the Union, you were........