An autistic woman pulled from her car during an ICE protest alleges in a lawsuit that agents mocked her disabilities after arresting her.
Aliya Rahman is suing the federal government, accusing agents of violating her rights during her January arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident was captured in a video that later went viral.
As four masked officers detained her, Rahman could be heard shouting: ‘I’m disabled, I’m trying to go to the doctor up there.’
At a press conference Tuesday, Rahman answered reporters’ questions about her lawsuit, which alleges eight tort claims against the government.
The claims include assault, battery, false arrest and imprisonment, as well as negligence. She is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
Rahman said: ‘This didn’t change my worldview, but it definitely changed everything about how I move around the world. I’m still dealing with lasting injuries.’
She hopes the case will support others who say they experienced alleged misconduct during what ICE called ‘Operation Metro Surge.’
Her attorneys said they filed a claim against the government in April. After receiving no response, they proceeded with the lawsuit.
Aliya Rahman is suing the federal government, alleging that agents violated her rights during her January arrest, shown here
Rahman was dragged away in handcuffs after at least three male officials pushed her against the car and arrested her
Her attorney, Jessica Gingold, said: ‘What happened to Aliya is not a result of just a couple of rogue officers.
‘It is the result of a lawless and negligent government encouraging and egging on officers who were recklessly and systemically violating the rights of individuals.’
Video from the scene shows Rahman in the driver’s seat of her Ford Fusion during a heated exchange with ICE agents in stationary traffic.
A masked officer repeatedly told her to ‘move, go’ while pointing toward the unobstructed road directly ahead of the car, seemingly indicating that she could drive away.
The federal agent then reached into the vehicle and grabbed at Rahman’s seat belt.
Rahman moved forward a few feet. No officers were blocking her path, and it appeared she might have been permitted to leave the area.
She then braked, while a masked officer gestured for her to move forward. It was unclear whether he was directing her to drive away or pull over.
As the camera moved back, another officer could again be seen signaling for Rahman to move the car away from the scene.
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At a press conference Tuesday, Rahman answered questions about her lawsuit, which alleges eight tort claims against the agents
A masked officer standing near the right side of the Ford smashed the front passenger window. Rahman began driving the sedan away, but agents surrounded the vehicle
Rahman did not follow the command and was again instructed to move away from the area.
Seconds later, another masked officer standing beside the Ford’s right side smashed the front passenger window. Rahman was then arrested.
In the weeks that followed, Rahman told the Star Tribune that she had difficulty lifting her arms because of torn shoulder tendons.
She said the injuries were caused when agents lifted her by her limbs. She also continued to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
In her new lawsuit, Rahman alleges that agents mocked her disabilities. She also claims that while held in a cell, she experienced ‘severe head pain’ and ‘blurred vision’ before losing consciousness.
According to the lawsuit, agents waited about 30 minutes after her cellmate reported that she was unresponsive before requesting emergency assistance.
A spokesperson for ICE told Our News Outlet: ‘ICE does not comment on or discuss matters involving ongoing litigation.’
Rahman, pictured, is a US-born citizen, technologist and social justice trainer who works on LGBTQ, immigrant and racial justice issues
Rahman is a US-born citizen, technologist and social justice trainer who focuses on LGBTQ and racial justice causes, according to her Tech for Social Justice profile.
The registered Democrat said she became deeply involved in activism while studying aeronautical engineering at Purdue University, after two cousins were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Rahman, who identifies as genderqueer, was dating a transgender man at the time. She said that, because of the culture in rural Indiana, becoming involved in advocacy was a ‘necessity.’
Our News Outlet previously reported that the arrest was not Rahman’s first encounter with law enforcement, as she had several prior interactions with police.
Her first traffic offense occurred in 2009, when she was charged with driving without insurance in Illinois. It is unclear how the case was resolved or whether Rahman was convicted or acquitted.
Ohio public records show that she was charged with driving under the influence in 2010 and pleaded guilty.
She was later found guilty of following too closely, stopping improperly at a stop sign, criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.
