DHS Refutes Claims of U.S. Citizen Detained in Wisconsin Facility

Federal Authorities Refute U.S. Citizen’s Detention Claims at Chicago Airport

Federal authorities and local law enforcement have categorically denied allegations made by a 28-year-old U.S. citizen who claimed she was detained by immigration officials at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and later transferred to a Wisconsin detention facility.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a strongly worded statement on Tuesday addressing the accusations made by Sunny Naqvi. “The passenger’s claims are blatantly FALSE,” the statement declared. “Ms. Naqvi departed CBP within 90 minutes of her arrival to the United States. Ms. Naqvi was not taken into custody or transferred to ICE for detention.”

According to DHS officials, Naqvi arrived at O’Hare on March 5, 2026, at approximately 10:21 a.m. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers reportedly referred her to secondary inspection based on law enforcement checks and conducted a routine baggage examination before releasing her within 90 minutes.

When WMTV 15 requested surveillance footage from O’Hare International Airport to independently verify the timeline provided by DHS, the request was denied. DHS representatives instead referred back to their original statement without providing additional evidence.

The controversy extends beyond federal authorities to local law enforcement in Wisconsin. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has similarly stated it has no record of Naqvi being held at the Dodge County Jail, a detention facility that contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house detainees.

The sheriff’s office has gone further, suggesting that photographic evidence purportedly showing Naqvi’s phone location pinging at the Wisconsin detention facility may have been falsified. This allegation directly challenges the evidence presented by Naqvi and her representatives.

Robert Held, Naqvi’s attorney, responded to these accusations by acknowledging his limited technical expertise. “I am an unskilled IT person and cannot verify the technical authenticity of the photos,” Held stated. However, he maintained that the screenshots of her location were sent directly to him by Naqvi’s sister, Sara Afzal, implying their authenticity.

The case highlights growing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and detention practices in the United States. In recent years, civil liberties organizations have documented numerous instances of U.S. citizens being erroneously detained by immigration authorities, sometimes for extended periods. These cases have raised concerns about procedural safeguards and oversight within the immigration enforcement system.

Immigration attorneys across the country have noted that secondary inspections at ports of entry have become more rigorous in recent years, with travelers occasionally reporting extended questioning and temporary holds. However, the transfer of a U.S. citizen to an ICE detention facility would represent a serious procedural error if proven true.

The conflicting narratives between federal authorities and Naqvi’s representatives leave many questions unanswered. Without access to surveillance footage or additional documentation from either side, independent verification remains challenging.

The dispute also underscores the increasing role of technology in both documenting and potentially manipulating evidence in legal disputes. Location data from mobile devices has become increasingly important in various legal contexts, though questions about its reliability and potential for manipulation persist.

As this situation continues to develop, both DHS and Naqvi’s legal team will likely face pressure to provide additional evidence to support their contradictory claims. The outcome could have significant implications for procedures at ports of entry and the rights of U.S. citizens during the immigration inspection process.