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Somali-American U.S. citizen confronted by masked ICE officers demanding citizenship proof in Minneapolis

Jan 12, 2026 · Minneapolis, MN, Somalia

Somali-American U.S. citizen confronted by masked ICE officers demanding citizenship proof in Minneapolis

Nimco Omar, a Somali-American U.S. citizen, was stopped by multiple masked ICE officers while walking in her Minneapolis neighborhood. The officers demanded identification and proof of citizenship status. Omar refused to provide ID and asserted she was a U.S. citizen, but an officer threatened to place her in a vehicle and warned of federal charges if she was lying. Omar recorded the encounter on her phone out of fear. Legal experts noted that U.S. citizens have no legal obligation to provide identification while walking or standing in public. The encounter occurred as part of ICE's expanded enforcement operations in Minneapolis.

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