(Minneapolis, Minnesota) – A St. Paul woman who says she was wrongfully detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement spoke out Wednesday at a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol, an appearance that quickly went viral and ignited online backlash.
Nasra Ahmed, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, said she was held by ICE agents for two days during a recent enforcement operation before being released without charges. The press conference was hosted by State Rep. Samakab Hussein, who accused federal agents of racial profiling and called for greater accountability.
While describing her background, Ahmed attempted to explain her Somali-American identity, saying, “Being Somali is more than bananas and rice. It’s a lot. It’s kind of like bananas and rice.” The line was clipped and widely shared on social media, where critics mocked the remark and used it as shorthand in broader debates over immigration and cultural integration.
Supporters argue the viral clip strips her comments of context, noting that Ahmed’s full remarks focused on her detention experience and pride in her heritage. Critics, however, seized on the quote as the press conference spread across X and other platforms, turning a local immigration dispute into a national flashpoint.
