Sheriff Files Lawsuit Over Alleged ICE Detention Claims

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt in Wisconsin has brought a civil lawsuit against Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi. He asserts that she made false statements regarding her alleged detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly 40 hours, followed by her confinement in jail.

The sheriff’s office stated, “There is no record of booking, detention, or release involving Ms. Naqvi in Dodge County.”

Naqvi, a U.S. citizen from Evanston, Illinois, claimed that after returning from a work trip abroad in early March, she was held by ICE at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for over 30 hours. She alleged that she was subsequently transferred to an ICE facility in Illinois and later to Dodge County Jail, where she said she was eventually released.

On March 7, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, a liberal figure who was running for Congress, called for a protest against ICE at the Broadview Detention Center, alleging Naqvi was being held there. Morrison, who described Naqvi as a friend, praised the hundreds of attendees at the protest, crediting their efforts for her release and demanding accountability from ICE.

Morrison tweeted, “We raised hell and we won. Now we want answers.”

Morrison also shared images of Naqvi supposedly reuniting with her family after the ordeal, emphasizing her vulnerability as a 28-year-old woman left on the streets by ICE in a different state.

The sheriff’s lawsuit additionally names Morrison as a defendant. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office denied Naqvi’s allegations shortly after, stating in a press release that she had never been booked at their facility. They encouraged her to contact them directly, as they did not have her information on file.

Moreover, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refuted her claims by sharing time-stamped photos on social media that contradicted Naqvi’s version of events.

The DHS asserted, “The passenger’s claims are blatantly FALSE…Ms. Naqvi was not taken into custody or transferred to ICE for detention.”

In truth, Naqvi was sent to secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport and departed the inspection area less than 90 minutes later. Evidence presented by Schmidt during a press conference included hotel records indicating that Naqvi checked into a nearby Hampton Inn on March 5, shortly after claiming to be detained.

Text messages from Naqvi also conflicted with her allegations, as she asked someone if she could use their card to pay for a spa service, which raised eyebrows since there’s no spa at the jail in Dodge County.

“There is no spa at Broadview in Chicago, Illinois. I can also tell you there is no spa lady in our jail here in Dodge County,” Schmidt remarked.

Surveillance footage and license plate reader data indicated that Naqvi voluntarily went to Wisconsin, and she was accompanied by a witness. However, family members of Naqvi alleged that law enforcement had misled them, citing supposed phone location data that suggested her presence at an ICE facility—claims the sheriff’s office deemed unverified and inconsistent with available evidence.

“The evidence strongly suggests these location images were manipulated and were unreliable,” Schmidt stated.

Despite the significant allegations, video evidence captured Naqvi at a gas station nearby at a similar time. Schmidt emphasized that the allegations were serious but not substantiated by evidence, urging that “the facts are clear — this did not happen.”

The sheriff’s office noted that while pursuing criminal charges is complex, Schmidt has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court. Additionally, they highlighted Naqvi’s history of making unproven claims, including false reports of sexual assault.

Officials conveyed that false allegations could erode public trust and harm reputations. The matter is under review by federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Illinois State Police.

Naqvi has not issued any public statements regarding the lawsuit, and Morrison mentioned he hadn’t seen it but would refrain from commenting if it exists. In the recent election on March 17, Morrison lost his bid for the Democratic nomination for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District to Melissa Bean, who garnered approximately 31.8% of the vote.