Nasra Ahmed, 23, left her family’s apartment complex on Lower Afton Road in St. Paul around 11 a.m. Wednesday on the way to the pharmacy to pick up her medicine. A car full of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pulled into the parking lot and demanded to see her papers.

“She said, ‘I’m a U.S. citizen, born in Hennepin County,’” said state Rep. Samakab Hussein, DFL-St. Paul, recounting the conversation he had with her father. “She’s never seen Somalia. She’s born in Hennepin County, grew up in St. Paul.”

The ICE agents detained her anyway, leaving her family uncertain of her whereabouts for at least 24 hours. Her father called Hussein in tears, pleading for any information he could muster, and the representative tracked her to the Sherburne County Jail, where she’s being held without bail pending possible felony charges.

A review of Minnesota court records on Friday showed no prior criminal history for her. Jail records describe her as 5’4 and 112 lbs.

“I’ve been making a lot of phone calls,” Hussein said. “I’m really devastated.”

The Sherburne County Jail roster lists no specific information about possible charges beyond “federal title,” “federal court” and “f” for felony. When her father stopped by the jail to talk to her, “they said we cannot release her until she sees a judge,” Hussein said.

In Minnesota, a person placed under arrest is expected to be released within 48 hours unless a judge makes a probable cause determination to hold them longer. That deadline came and went Friday morning.

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