Bangladeshi woman dragged out of her car by ICE agents in Minneapolis

Ema Alice: In Minneapolis, Minnesota, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents forcibly removed a human rights and LGBTQ rights activist from her car and detained her on Tuesday. The detainee has been identified as Alia Rahman, an experienced software engineer.

According to a report by the New York Post, ICE agents were conducting an operation to identify and arrest undocumented immigrants when local residents began protesting against the enforcement action. It is alleged that Alia attempted to block the agents’ movement using her vehicle.

Video footage shows masked ICE agents smashing the car window and forcibly pulling Alia out of the vehicle. Alia can be heard saying that she was unwell and on her way to see a doctor. Protesters at the scene were also shouting at the agents, urging them to stop.

ICE operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for enforcing immigration laws, border security, and combating transnational crime. The agency is also tasked with detaining, prosecuting, and deporting undocumented immigrants.

Forty-three-year-old Alia Rahman describes herself professionally as a “community-focused security practitioner.” She previously worked as a fellow at New America’s Open Technology Institute, where she contributed to policy work on police body-camera usage. According to her LinkedIn profile, she earned her graduate degree from Purdue University and is a trained cybersecurity professional.

Although Alia was born in the United States, she moved to Bangladesh with her family during childhood. From an early age, she has identified as “gender-queer.” In an interview, she once said about Bangladesh: “I watched a country grow. I saw movements of garment workers, especially women, fighting for their rights.”

Two of her cousins were killed during the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001. Alia has long been involved with Black Lives Matter, pro-Palestinian movements, and LGBTQ rights organizations.

As of Tuesday night, it was not yet known whether formal charges had been filed against her. ICE stated that she interfered with their operation to detain undocumented immigrants.

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BP/SM