The Minneapolis activist seen in a viral January video being yanked from her car by federal agents is now trying to haul the federal government into court. Aliya Rahman has filed a federal tort claim accusing the Department of Homeland Security of excessive force and violating her constitutional rights after agents smashed her passenger-side window, dragged her from the vehicle and carried her down the street during a federal enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. Her attorneys say she was injured while detained and are seeking money damages and something closer to accountability from Washington.
Rahman Files Federal Tort Claim
Rahman lodged the administrative claim on April 16 against the Department of Homeland Security, and a news release from her legal team described her detention as a “brutal assault and unjust and inhumane detention,” according to the Star Tribune. The filing, her lawyers say, was submitted by the MacArthur Justice Center together with Friedman, Gilbert + Gerhardstein and seeks reimbursement for medical costs and other losses tied to the incident.
Footage And Federal Response
A bystander video that quickly spread online appears to show agents smashing Rahman’s window, cutting her seatbelt, and hauling her out of the car before carrying her toward a federal vehicle, as reported by the AP. In an April 16 email cited by the Star Tribune, a DHS spokesperson called Rahman an “agitator” who “ignored multiple commands” and said she was arrested for obstruction. Rahman and her attorneys say she was never charged.
Rahman’s Account And Injuries
Rahman, who is autistic and says she sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2024, told The Nation that officers denied requests for medical care and that she later lost consciousness while in custody. Her lawyers say she now suffers from PTSD and torn shoulder tendons that limit how much she can lift, and local coverage of her account appeared on Fox 9.
How The Claim Can Become A Lawsuit
The filing is an administrative step under the Federal Tort Claims Act, a required on-ramp before a full-blown lawsuit against the federal government. If the agency fails to make a final decision within six months, the claimant may treat that silence as a final denial and proceed to federal court, legal guidance explains. For background on that process, see an overview of the FTCA on Congress.gov.
Broader Context
Rahman’s claim lands amid national scrutiny of “Operation Metro Surge,” a large DHS operation that sent thousands of federal agents to Minnesota and drew protests, lawsuits and calls for more oversight after several deadly encounters. Reporting on the surge and the legal fallout has been carried by outlets including the AP, and Rahman’s filing adds to a growing slate of civil claims that lawyers say could test whether federal tactics in the Twin Cities are forced to change.
