US citizen detained by ICE at airport, transferred to Wisconsin jail, faces defamation lawsuit
Apr 18, 2026·Location: Dodge County, WI
Country of origin: Turkey

Sundas Naqvi, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE agents at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on March 5, 2026, after returning from Turkey. She claimed a 43-hour ordeal involving transfer to Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin and was released early Saturday morning with a dead phone. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt denied having any record of her at the facility, while DHS disputed her account by releasing surveillance footage showing secondary screening lasted less than an hour. In April 2026, Sheriff Schmidt filed a million-dollar defamation lawsuit against Naqvi, characterizing her detention claims as false and part of a "romantic scam" with her boyfriend. Naqvi's attorney provided location data and requested release of additional surveillance footage.
Timeline
Sources
- DHS disputes claims that Skokie woman was detained at O
- Family says US citizen was detained by ICE, transferred to Dodge County Jail; sheriff says no record of visit
WBAY·Mar 10, 2026·archived copy
WBAY·Mar 10, 2026·archived copy
WBAY·Mar 10, 2026·archived copy
- madison.com
- Sheriff's office disputes claim that US citizen detained by ICE was sent to Dodge County Jail
- A US citizen said she was illegally held by ICE. Surveillance video, the DHS and a million dollar lawsuit say otherwise
edition.cnn.com·Apr 18, 2026·archived copy
- 'Didn't Make Sense At All': Family, attorney say feds detained U.S.-born Skokie resident for two days - The Record
therecordnorthshore.org·Mar 9, 2026·archived copy
- Family demands answers after US citizen detained at O'Hare Airport, held for more than 30 hours
nbcchicago.com·Mar 8, 2026·archived copy
- Woman With 5 Others Traveling Home On Business Held At O’Hare For 30 Hours - Journal & Topics Media Group
journal-topics.com·Mar 9, 2026·archived copy
- U.S. Citizen Detained At Chicago O'Hare Airport Over "Recent Travel History" Almost Reported As Missing Person
thetravel.com·Mar 9, 2026·archived copy
- Claim: U.S. Citizen Detained For 43 Hours At Chicago O’Hare Over “Curious Travel History” - Live and Let's Fly
liveandletsfly.com·Mar 9, 2026·archived copy
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