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A Wisconsin sheriff has filed a federal defamation lawsuit against an Illinois woman and a county commissioner over claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained her for approximately 40 hours in Illinois and Wisconsin — allegations the sheriff vehemently denies with substantial evidence.
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt announced Friday that he has filed a civil defamation lawsuit against Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi and others, including Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, seeking $1 million from each defendant. Schmidt presented extensive evidence during a news conference that he says proves Naqvi’s detention claims were fabricated.
“Dodge County is not the place you want to make up a hoax about,” Schmidt declared while revealing surveillance footage, receipts, and witness statements contradicting Naqvi’s account.
The controversy began on March 8, when Commissioner Morrison and Naqvi’s sister, Sarah Afzal, held a news conference alleging that Naqvi, an American citizen, had been unlawfully detained by ICE. They claimed she was initially held at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, then transferred to the Broadview ICE Detention Facility in the Chicago area, before being moved to the Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin.
“This is a 28-year-old girl just left on the street by ICE in another state, without her property,” Morrison stated during the March press conference. Afzal further alleged that authorities had lied to the family about Naqvi’s whereabouts, claiming they had tracked her location to detention facilities in both Illinois and Wisconsin.
Sheriff Schmidt’s investigation tells a drastically different story. He presented U.S. Department of Homeland Security images showing Naqvi clearing customs at O’Hare at 10:21 a.m. on March 5 after returning from an international flight. According to DHS records, she went through secondary inspection and voluntarily left the public area approximately 80 minutes later.
The sheriff revealed hotel records indicating Naqvi checked into the Hampton Inn and Suites in Rosemont, Illinois at 1:17 p.m. on March 5 — the same time she was allegedly in ICE custody. Schmidt also displayed text messages in which Naqvi allegedly asked someone if she could “use your card to pay my spa lady.”
“Now, I don’t know about you, and my staff have never reported one. There is no spa at Broadview in Chicago, Illinois. I can also tell you there is no spa lady at our jail here in Dodge County,” Schmidt remarked.
Sheriff Schmidt further undermined Naqvi’s claims by presenting surveillance footage from a Slinger, Wisconsin gas station showing her present at 5:46 a.m. on March 7 — the same morning she was purportedly being released from the Dodge County Jail.
“The evidence strongly suggests these location images were manipulated and are unreliable,” Schmidt said, referring to phone location data Naqvi’s family had cited. “5:29 a.m., if she was in the Dodge County Jail at 5:29 a.m., where was she at 5:46 a.m? 37 minutes away in Slinger. The times don’t line up.”
According to Naqvi’s supporters, she was released from ICE custody in the early hours of March 7 and hitchhiked nine miles to a Holiday Inn where her family met her. Sheriff Schmidt directly contradicted this timeline with the surveillance evidence.
The sheriff also referenced Naqvi’s background, claiming she had previously made false allegations in three other cases, though details of those incidents were not elaborated upon during the press conference.
“This is a serious accusation. And when it is not true, it does real damage,” Schmidt emphasized. “It damages the trust between law enforcement and the community. It unfairly puts a target on the backs of officers who are doing their jobs the right way. And it undermines the integrity of agencies.”
When contacted by local media, Naqvi’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Commissioner Morrison acknowledged he had not yet seen the lawsuit and stated he could not comment on pending litigation.
The case highlights growing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement practices and raises questions about accountability in public allegations against law enforcement agencies. Sheriff Schmidt’s lawsuit represents an uncommon but increasingly visible response from law enforcement officials facing public accusations they deem false and damaging to institutional credibility.
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7 Comments
This case highlights the importance of due process and verifying claims, even in sensitive areas like immigration detention. A thorough, impartial investigation is needed to determine what actually occurred.
This is a complex case with conflicting claims. I’m glad the sheriff has presented evidence to counter the detention allegations. It’s important to get the facts straight before drawing conclusions.
Agreed, fact-finding is crucial in cases like this. The surveillance footage and witness statements seem to undermine the original claims, but more details may still emerge.
This lawsuit raises interesting legal and civil liberties questions around immigration enforcement and citizen detention claims. I hope a thorough investigation can resolve the discrepancies.
Absolutely, these are sensitive issues that require careful analysis. Lawsuits like this can help bring the facts to light, but it’s important to avoid rushing to judgment.
The sheriff’s presentation of evidence appears compelling, but I’d like to see a full accounting of the timeline and circumstances before forming a final opinion. Defamation lawsuits can be complex.
Interesting case with conflicting narratives. I’m curious to see how the lawsuit progresses and what additional details emerge. These situations require careful examination of all the facts.