An Uber driver in Minneapolis was accosted by US Border Patrol agents, sparking a confrontation that has raised questions about racism and police brutality. Ahmed Bin Hassan, a Somali-American, was driving for Uber at the airport when he was approached by two Border Patrol agents.
"I can hear you don't have the same accent as me," one of the agents told him. "That's why I'm asking you." The agent then asked Bin Hassan to show his ID and prove his citizenship. However, Bin Hassan refused, saying that he didn't feel comfortable doing so.
The confrontation escalated when a Border Patrol agent pulled out a canister of what appeared to be chemical agents from their body armor. Bin Hassan said that the agents were trying to intimidate him into showing them his ID.
"I knew they were going to do something," Bin Hassan told The Intercept, a news organization that interviewed him about the incident. "I was prepared for it."
Bin Hassan is a US citizen who moved to the country from Somalia when he was 17 years old. He has been driving for Uber since December and said that he has encountered several ICE agents while working.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many people praising Bin Hassan's bravery and humor in the face of racism and intimidation. However, some have also criticized him for not cooperating with the agents.
Bin Hassan said that his decision to refuse to show his ID was motivated by a desire to protect himself and others from what he saw as racist behavior.
"They couldn't hear my voice when they knocked on my window, but they could see my color," Bin Hassan told The Intercept. "I knew what he meant, and I wanted to let him say his racism all out."
Bin Hassan also said that he is not afraid of encountering ICE agents while driving, despite the incident.
"When it comes to the ICE officers, we've met each other, they know me," he said. "If they've decided to leave me alone because they found out I am a citizen, they've made that decision too."
The incident has raised questions about the treatment of minority communities by law enforcement and the role of racism in policing. It also highlights the ongoing struggles faced by Somali-American communities in the US, who have been targeted by Trump's immigration policies.
As Bin Hassan said, "It's not easy getting hired." He faces numerous challenges, including a lack of job opportunities and limited access to education and healthcare. However, he remains optimistic about his future and his ability to make a difference.
The incident also highlights the importance of independent journalism and the need for media outlets like The Intercept to continue reporting on issues that affect marginalized communities.
As Bin Hassan said, "That's where you come in. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?"
Overall, the incident has sparked an important conversation about racism, police brutality, and the treatment of minority communities. It also highlights the need for greater understanding and empathy towards those who are often overlooked and marginalized.
"I can hear you don't have the same accent as me," one of the agents told him. "That's why I'm asking you." The agent then asked Bin Hassan to show his ID and prove his citizenship. However, Bin Hassan refused, saying that he didn't feel comfortable doing so.
The confrontation escalated when a Border Patrol agent pulled out a canister of what appeared to be chemical agents from their body armor. Bin Hassan said that the agents were trying to intimidate him into showing them his ID.
"I knew they were going to do something," Bin Hassan told The Intercept, a news organization that interviewed him about the incident. "I was prepared for it."
Bin Hassan is a US citizen who moved to the country from Somalia when he was 17 years old. He has been driving for Uber since December and said that he has encountered several ICE agents while working.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many people praising Bin Hassan's bravery and humor in the face of racism and intimidation. However, some have also criticized him for not cooperating with the agents.
Bin Hassan said that his decision to refuse to show his ID was motivated by a desire to protect himself and others from what he saw as racist behavior.
"They couldn't hear my voice when they knocked on my window, but they could see my color," Bin Hassan told The Intercept. "I knew what he meant, and I wanted to let him say his racism all out."
Bin Hassan also said that he is not afraid of encountering ICE agents while driving, despite the incident.
"When it comes to the ICE officers, we've met each other, they know me," he said. "If they've decided to leave me alone because they found out I am a citizen, they've made that decision too."
The incident has raised questions about the treatment of minority communities by law enforcement and the role of racism in policing. It also highlights the ongoing struggles faced by Somali-American communities in the US, who have been targeted by Trump's immigration policies.
As Bin Hassan said, "It's not easy getting hired." He faces numerous challenges, including a lack of job opportunities and limited access to education and healthcare. However, he remains optimistic about his future and his ability to make a difference.
The incident also highlights the importance of independent journalism and the need for media outlets like The Intercept to continue reporting on issues that affect marginalized communities.
As Bin Hassan said, "That's where you come in. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?"
Overall, the incident has sparked an important conversation about racism, police brutality, and the treatment of minority communities. It also highlights the need for greater understanding and empathy towards those who are often overlooked and marginalized.
. If Ahmed Bin Hassan was indeed a US citizen, why did he feel the need to refuse showing his ID? shouldn't that be enough proof of citizenship? This whole thing sounds like a setup for propaganda 
. What's really going on here is that an Uber driver caught between two worlds needs to highlight these issues or else no one will listen 
. Can we get some concrete evidence on this alleged chemical agent canister, btw? 
This is a super concerning incident, fam... I mean, how can someone just pull out some kind of chemical agent from their body armor? That's straight up intimidation tactics 
. And the fact that Bin Hassan was targeted because of his accent and ethnicity is just heartbreaking 
. We need to do better as a society to address racism and police brutality, especially when it comes to communities of color. It's time for us to listen to their stories and amplify their voices 
. Let's keep having these tough conversations and hold our leaders accountable 
.
I'm seriously worried when I hear stories like this... like what if that was his family member or friend? 
The fact that Border Patrol agents used intimidation tactics to try and get Ahmed to show his ID is just unacceptable 
. We need more conversations about racism in law enforcement and how we can work together to create a safer, more inclusive society for everyone 
. i mean, can u believe it? they were trying to intimidate him into showing his id just because he had a different accent 
. but what really gets me is that he refused to cooperate and stood up for himself 
. like, who wouldn't want to protect themselves from racist behavior? 
. and it's not just him - this incident is a reminder that we need to be watching out for each other, especially when it comes to marginalized communities 
. we need to amplify the voices of people like ahmed who are often overlooked and silenced 
. so here's to independent journalism and media outlets that continue to report on issues that matter 
!
I'm not saying Bin Hassan is a bad guy or anything, but what if he was just playing along to see how far they'd take it? 
it's not even about immigration policies, it's just basic human decency. ICE agents are supposed to be enforcing laws, not harassing citizens in airports! 
just thinkin' about this Uber driver gettin' treated like some kinda suspect 'cause he's Somali-American is just crazy to me. I mean, shouldn't we be treatin' people with respect regardless of their background? 
2026, hope they're reporting more on this stuff! 
This is totally unacceptable! I mean come on, who does this to a US citizen just because they're Somali-American? 
That's just racist profiling if you ask me. What's next, stopping people from Uber 'cause their last name sounds "foreign"? 
Bin Hassan is a US citizen who moved to the country from Somalia at 17, I don't know how hard it must be for him to navigate this system. He's actually kinda cool for standing up for himself and refusing to show his ID 
. He's a US citizen, for crying out loud! He should be able to go about his day without being harassed or intimidated. And can we talk about how ridiculous it is that the agents thought they could get away with using some kind of chemical agent from their body armor? Like, what's next?