Ahmed Bin Hassan was sitting in his car while working for Uber at the Minneapolis airport when he was approached by a Border Patrol agent. This encounter occurred hours after an officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shot and killed Renee Nicole Good elsewhere in the city.
A Viral Confrontation
Bin Hassan, a Somali American, had been watching videos of the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, which were rapidly circulating on social media. According to Bin Hassan, the agent initiated contact by commenting on his accent, stating, “I can hear you don’t have the same accent as me.” The subsequent confrontation, involving over a dozen masked ICE agents, was captured on video and quickly went viral.
Videos of the incident show Bin Hassan requesting identification from the officers and even questioning their citizenship. A Border Patrol agent at one point told him, “If you were from this country, you would know I’m an immigration agent.” Bin Hassan, a U.S. citizen since 2016, described the agent’s comment as revealing their underlying motivation for the stop.
Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol senior official, was also present at the scene, approaching with canisters appearing to contain chemical agents. The confrontation lasted several minutes before the agents departed.
Defiance in the Face of Risk
Bin Hassan recounted to The Intercept that he was aware of the potential consequences of his actions, noting the recent killing of Renee Nicole Good. Despite this, he chose to remain defiant, refusing to provide his identity and instead engaging with the agents. “I knew the consequences,” he said. “Either they would kill me…or they were going to rough me up.”
Bin Hassan, who moved to the U.S. in 2005 and began driving for Uber last December after struggling to find work in his field of mechanical engineering, stated he felt no fear during the encounter, attributing his composure to his Muslim faith.
Broader Context
The increased immigration enforcement in Minnesota followed a surge of attention from far-right media regarding alleged fraud cases in the state. This attention prompted President Trump to make disparaging remarks about Somali immigrants, described as “garbage.” A video collaboration between a MAGA influencer and a Minnesota lobbyist further fueled the crackdown, alleging fraud in local day care centers.
Following the release of this video, thousands of federal agents were deployed to Minnesota, prompting local residents to organize networks to track ICE activity and provide warnings. Renee Nicole Good was one of those involved in these efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the confrontation between Ahmed Bin Hassan and Border Patrol agents?
The confrontation began after a Border Patrol agent approached Bin Hassan in his car and commented on his accent, suggesting he was not from the country. This occurred amidst a heightened period of immigration enforcement in Minnesota following President Trump’s comments about the Somali community.
What was Bin Hassan’s reaction to the agents’ questioning?
Bin Hassan remained defiant throughout the encounter, refusing to provide his identity and instead questioning the agents’ credentials and citizenship. He stated he wanted to force the agents to openly express any biases they may have.
What led to the increased immigration enforcement in Minnesota?
The increased enforcement followed a video released by a MAGA influencer and a Minnesota lobbyist alleging fraud in local day care centers, prompting President Trump to make critical remarks about Somali immigrants and deploy thousands of federal agents to the state.
What are your thoughts on the role of social media in documenting and amplifying incidents like this one?
