In a tense confrontation at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Ahmed Bin Hassan, a Somali-American Uber driver, faced off with Border Patrol agents over allegations of immigration fraud – an incident that has raised questions about racism and xenophobia in law enforcement.
As Bin Hassan watched videos of Renee Nicole Good's fatal shooting by an ICE agent just hours earlier, he was interrupted by the knock on his car window. A Border Patrol agent told him she didn't have the same accent as him, prompting the driver to respond by saying "I can hear you don't have the same accent as me." The phrase, Bin Hassan later said, was a tell for the agents' motivation for accosting him in the first place.
Bin Hassan, 38, had been driving for Uber since December 2025 and had just received two rides on Wednesday. He claims he wanted to "get out of their way so I could continue working" – but not before a confrontation that lasted several minutes.
"I knew what he meant," Bin Hassan said in an interview with The Intercept. "I wanted to let him say his racism all out."
Bin Hassan, who moved to the US in 2005 and became a citizen in 2016, has faced similar experiences as Black Muslim immigrants. He graduated from Washington State University's Richland campus with a degree in mechanical engineering but couldn't find work due to job rejections that cited his immigration status.
The Twin Cities' Somali community is predominantly made up of citizens and legal permanent residents – yet the Trump administration targeted the city to crack down on Somalis, sparking tensions and incidents like Bin Hassan's confrontation.
As Bin Hassan watched videos of Renee Nicole Good's fatal shooting by an ICE agent just hours earlier, he was interrupted by the knock on his car window. A Border Patrol agent told him she didn't have the same accent as him, prompting the driver to respond by saying "I can hear you don't have the same accent as me." The phrase, Bin Hassan later said, was a tell for the agents' motivation for accosting him in the first place.
Bin Hassan, 38, had been driving for Uber since December 2025 and had just received two rides on Wednesday. He claims he wanted to "get out of their way so I could continue working" – but not before a confrontation that lasted several minutes.
"I knew what he meant," Bin Hassan said in an interview with The Intercept. "I wanted to let him say his racism all out."
Bin Hassan, who moved to the US in 2005 and became a citizen in 2016, has faced similar experiences as Black Muslim immigrants. He graduated from Washington State University's Richland campus with a degree in mechanical engineering but couldn't find work due to job rejections that cited his immigration status.
The Twin Cities' Somali community is predominantly made up of citizens and legal permanent residents – yet the Trump administration targeted the city to crack down on Somalis, sparking tensions and incidents like Bin Hassan's confrontation.
- how can people still be racist towards others just because they don't look like them or have a different accent? it's wild that Ahmed got confronted like that, just 'cause of his ethnicity... I mean, he's a US citizen and everything! 
and what really got me is that Renee Nicole Good's fatal shooting by an ICE agent was just hours before this incident. it feels like they're just targeting people of color and immigrants all the time... 
, can't we all just get along? 
I mean, what's going on here? 
One minute you're driving for Uber, the next you're face to face with Border Patrol in a tense situation. 
And to think, he was watching videos of that other girl who got shot by an ICE agent just hours before... 
That must've been super triggering 
.
Who cares if it's not the same as his? 
It's like, hello, you're supposed to be helping people, not profiling them based on their voice. 
. It's just so...humanity-destroying 
I mean, he was trying to protect himself, but really, it was the agents who should've been doing that 
. It's just...ugh 
.
. It's just not right that someone can be pulled over for a ride-share and then have their accent used as a reason to question their immigration status. Like, what even is that? 
. And to think, he was watching another incident just hours before... Renee Nicole Good's shooting by an ICE agent 
. That's just awful. We need to stand up against racism in law enforcement and make sure everyone gets treated equally 
no matter their background or accent 
. We can't keep allowing biases and prejudices to guide our actions as law enforcement officers. It's time for us to come together and demand better from our institutions 
there needs to be some serious reforms in the way law enforcement is handled, especially when it comes to immigration issues. we need to make sure everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of their background or status 
This is so frustrating! 
It's not right, especially when it comes to immigration issues. 
Ahmed Bin Hassan is a hero for speaking truth to power and standing up for himself. 
We need more people like him to continue the conversation about equality and justice. 
this is getting out of hand!!! someone needs to explain why these agents can't just do their job without picking a fight over accents or immigration status? it's 2025 and we should be living in a world where that's not even an issue 
. The fact that he was interrupted by the agent after watching Renee Nicole Good's fatal shooting just hours before is just too much to handle 
. But seriously, it's not funny anymore.
.
.
It's all so messed up and frustrating. I wish people would wake up and realize how discriminatory and unfair these policies are! 
. it's time for us 2 take a stand against this kind of profiling & demand better from our law enforcement