Sworn Affidavits Allege Systematic Abuse by Federal Agents in Minnesota

The legal challenge, filed by the ACLU of Minnesota and partner firms, targets the Department of Homeland Security for practices plaintiffs describe as a fundamental erosion of civic life. Among the documented accounts is the experience of a 33-year-old Latino citizen, who reported being boxed in by agents at a stoplight, held at gunpoint, and physically restrained despite repeatedly asserting his citizenship. Agents eventually released him after realizing they had targeted the wrong individual.

Patterns of Enforcement

These testimonies contradict the Supreme Court’s previous assertion that roving patrols would result in only brief, non-burdensome encounters for those legally present in the United States. NYU law professor Ryan Goodman noted that the affidavits demonstrate a stark disconnect between the court's theoretical expectations and the reality on the ground. The accounts consistently describe agents ignoring proof of status, citing accents as grounds for suspicion, and in several instances, forcing motorists off the road.

In one case involving a 22-year-old Somali-American, agents rejected her valid ID and demanded a passport, which citizens are not legally required to carry. Other filings describe agents using excessive force, including kneeling on individuals and pointing weapons during routine encounters. The case, Hussen v. Noem, seeks to address these claims of unconstitutional racial profiling and unreasonable seizure, with a court hearing scheduled for later this month.