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In a dramatic legal challenge, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt has filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against an Illinois woman, alleging she fabricated a story about being detained in his Wisconsin jail by federal immigration officials.
Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi, 28, gained widespread public attention and sympathy last month when she claimed to have been detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for 30 hours after returning from a work trip to Turkey on March 5. According to her account, she and five others were initially held at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport before being transferred to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, and subsequently to the Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin.
The case quickly drew public outcry and protests, with supporters like Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, described as a family friend of Naqvi, publicly criticizing her alleged treatment at the hands of immigration officials.
However, Sheriff Schmidt’s lawsuit, filed last Friday, presents what he claims is substantial evidence contradicting Naqvi’s narrative. “At no point was Sundas Naqvi in the custody of the Dodge County Sheriff’s office,” Schmidt stated firmly during a press conference where he presented surveillance videos, documents, and text messages to support his position.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has also disputed Naqvi’s account, releasing surveillance footage they say shows her leaving O’Hare Airport approximately 90 minutes after her flight landed—not after the 30-hour detention she claimed.
Among the evidence Sheriff Schmidt presented was a hotel guest folio appearing to show Naqvi checked into a Rosemont, Illinois hotel roughly three hours after her plane landed at O’Hare on March 5. Additionally, surveillance footage seems to show Naqvi being driven to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and back to the Chicago area on March 7 by an ex-boyfriend.
In a particularly revealing detail, Schmidt claimed the ex-boyfriend told investigators he had given Naqvi approximately $25,000 over several weeks, including funds for her flight to Turkey.
“They have not been supported by any—any—verified evidence at all,” Schmidt said of Naqvi’s allegations, arguing that her false claims have damaged his agency’s reputation. “I don’t have any charges here in Dodge County to bring against her. My only recourse is to make sure that the public knows that she can’t do this.”
The unusual nature of the lawsuit has caught the attention of legal experts. Julius Kim, an attorney practicing in southeastern Wisconsin, noted the rarity of law enforcement officials pursuing defamation cases. “I think it’s very, very rare. In fact, this is the first time I’ve heard of a county sheriff in their individual capacity file a defamation suit against claims that were made against them,” Kim said.
Kim also highlighted the additional legal hurdles in defamation cases involving public figures: “When we deal with public figures, there’s an extra burden, an extra standard that he has to overcome, and that is he has to show that the person who defamed him did it with actual malice.”
The lawsuit names not only Naqvi but also Commissioner Morrison and ten “John Doe” defendants—currently unidentified individuals living outside Wisconsin who allegedly participated in publishing or republishing the claims against the sheriff. Schmidt’s legal team plans to add these individuals’ names to the lawsuit once they are identified.
When CBS News Chicago attempted to reach Naqvi at her residence on Friday, no one answered the door. Commissioner Morrison has declined substantive comment, stating only that he cannot discuss pending litigation.
The case highlights growing tensions around immigration enforcement narratives and raises questions about accountability in an era when social media can rapidly amplify allegations against public institutions before all facts are verified.
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8 Comments
While false claims can be damaging, it’s also important to ensure that legitimate concerns about immigration detention policies are not silenced. I hope this case can shed light on the nuances of this complex issue.
Lawsuits like this highlight the challenges of balancing free speech and reputational protection. It will be interesting to see how the courts navigate this particular case and its broader implications.
Given the high-profile nature of this case and the potential political implications, it will be crucial for the judicial process to remain impartial and fact-based. I hope both sides are given a fair hearing.
It’s concerning to hear about potential false claims being made around immigration detention. However, it’s also important to ensure due process and not jump to conclusions before all the facts are known. I hope this case is resolved fairly.
Defamation lawsuits can be a double-edged sword, as they can both hold people accountable for falsehoods and also chill important public discourse. I’ll be watching this case closely to see how the courts balance those competing interests.
This is a complex case with competing narratives. I’m curious to see what evidence the sheriff presents to back up his defamation claim against this woman. Immigration detention issues can be politically charged, so a thorough investigation is warranted.
Defamation lawsuits can be tricky, as they require proving both falsity and malicious intent. I’ll be interested to see how the evidence shakes out in this case, and whether the sheriff is able to substantiate his claims.
Immigration detention is a sensitive and controversial topic, so it’s not surprising to see strong emotions and competing narratives. I hope this case can be resolved through a fair and impartial process.