Somali woman who went viral for ‘bananas and rice’ speech arrested for obstructing ICE

WASHINGTON, DC: A Somali woman who went viral for her “bananas and rice” speech has been arrested on federal charges, according to the US attorney general. Nasra Ahmed, 23, was taken into custody for allegedly obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

Bondi also announced the arrests of several other individuals accused of interfering with federal law enforcement activities.

Pam Bondi announced arrest of 16 Minnesota rioters, including Nasra Ahmed

Pam Bondi posted on her official X account that she was “on the ground in Minneapolis” on January 28 and announced the arrest of 16 people during protests in the Twin Cities.

Bondi wrote that federal agents had taken the suspects into custody for allegedly assaulting and impeding federal law enforcement officers, saying they were among those “resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents.”

Bondi added that authorities expect more arrests and vowed that “nothing will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law.” She shared the list of individuals charged "under 18 US Code § 111," a federal statute covering assault, resistance or obstruction of officers.

The arrests occurred as protests continue in Minnesota over a federal immigration crackdown that has fueled unrest across the state. Demonstrations intensified after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during federal law enforcement operations, and some protesters have targeted federal officers and facilities in the days since.

Nasra Ahmed accused ICE of using a racial slur during her two-day detention

Nasra Ahmed has recently described her arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, calling the experience chaotic. Ahmed said ICE agents stopped her in her St Paul neighborhood on January 14, took her into custody and held her in Sherburne County Jail for two days before releasing her, claiming the encounter left her shaken.

At a press conference, Ahmed said she survived the ordeal and stood up for what she believed was right, noting the cameras and public attention focused on her. “I got kidnapped by ICE,” she said, adding that an agent used a racial slur during the arrest. Ahmed also claimed she suffered injuries during the encounter and was subjected to aggressive treatment.

"I got kidnapped by ICE. They came to my neighborhood, they took me, arrested me, and detained me for two days. An ICE agent called me a racial slur. They pushed me hard, they used a lot of violence, I got a concussion. I was screaming, I was crying, I was so scared. I’ve never been arrested in my life."

Addressing her cultural identity at the event, she said being Somali is more than a simple stereotype about food. “I’m proud to be Somali. To me, being Somali isn’t just eating bananas with rice. It’s a lot. It’s an interesting thing. It’s very hard to describe what it means to be Somali and what it means to be American but it’s like a cultural fusion. It’s kind of like the bananas and rice, you know?”