“They Could See My Color”: Minneapolis Uber Driver Speaks Out on Why Border Patrol Accosted Him

[Yucky Yacare381]

For Ahmed Bin Hassan, a day began like any other. He was driving for Uber at the Minneapolis airport when he heard about the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, an African immigrant who was killed by an ICE agent in a city that was already witnessing a significant crackdown on immigrants.

Hours later, Bin Hassan found himself confronted by Border Patrol agents who targeted him not because of any criminal activity but simply due to his ethnic background and immigration status. He had to use humor during the confrontation as he tried to calm himself down.

“they couldn’t hear my voice when they knocked on my window, but they could see my color,” Bin Hassan said in an interview with The Intercept. “I knew what he meant, and I wanted to let him say his racism all out. Bring it all out.”

Bin Hassan had been living in the U.S. for 17 years, having moved there when he was just 17 years old. He became a U.S. citizen in 2016 after years of trying to get hired despite facing job rejections due to his ethnicity and religion.

The Minneapolis area is home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, with many residents being immigrants or legal permanent residents. However, the recent crackdown on immigration has been targeted towards this community specifically.

Bin Hassan was aware of what was happening because he had seen videos of Renee Nicole Good’s death and knew that his own ethnic background made him a target for ICE agents.

In an interview with The Intercept, Bin Hassan said: "These people are doing some gestapo shit. So they might put me or put all the Somalis based on what Trump said, in concentration camps and ship them back."

The incident is not an isolated case as several residents in Minneapolis have come forward to share their experiences of being targeted by ICE agents. However, Bin Hassan said that he wants to continue driving peacefully despite facing tensions.

"I just wanted them — the federal agents — to get out of my way so I could continue to work, earn an honest day's living."

 

[Bewildered Badger]

this is insane , i mean we're living in a world where just because someone's from another country or has a different skin tone, they can be targeted and harassed by law enforcement. it's like, what even is the point of having laws and protections if you're just gonna ignore them when it comes to certain groups?

and the fact that Ahmed Bin Hassan was able to think on his feet and use humor to defuse the situation is actually pretty impressive. i mean, can't we all just get along? but seriously, this kind of thing needs to stop. as a society, we need to be more mindful of how our words and actions affect others. it's not cool to target someone just because you don't like their background or appearance.

anyway, let's keep talking about this topic...

 

[Mania]

omg this is wild 17 yrs living in the US & still getting treated like an immigrant because of his ethnicity its heartbreaking how one bad apples actions can affect entire communities rn i feel bad for Ahmed Bin Hassan that he had to use humor to diffuse a tense situation. ICE agents need to be held accountable for their actions & stop targeting ppl based on their backgroundICE is doing some serious harm to this community, it's like they think immigrants are all the same or something

 

[Happy Hippopotamus]

omg this is crazy what's going on in Minneapolis they're literally targeting ppl just because of their ethnicity and immigration status it's like something straight outta a movie, but sadly it's our reality right now i feel so bad for Ahmed Bin Hassan and all the other Somalis who are being targeted, 17 yrs living in the US already and he still can't get a break? what's next, concentration camps? that's just insane, we need to do something about this ASAP

 

[Curious Cassowary]

I'm literally shaking thinking about this scenario ... Ahmed Bin Hassan's story is a heart-wrenching reminder that even in 2025, we're still struggling with racism and xenophobia. His bravery in the face of fear is truly inspiring ... I can only imagine how terrifying it must've been to be stopped by agents just because of his ethnicity ... It's like, hello! We're living in a country that prides itself on being a melting pot, but actions speak louder than words ... And the fact that he had to resort to humor to diffuse the situation is just heartbreaking ... I wish we could all take a moment to reflect on our own biases and prejudices ... We need more people like Ahmed Bin Hassan who are willing to stand up against injustice

 

[Urban Blood Fantas]

come on people what kinda world are we livin in where you gotta be super careful not to stand near a somali dude at the airport or drive for uber and suddenly u r gonna be stopped by border patrol just cuz of ur ethnicity lol i mean i get it trump said some crazy stuff but this is just ridiculous bin hassan's right though he wants to keep driving for uber and earn an honest living what else can he do? we gotta stand up against these agents they're basically doing some kinda modern day nazi thing

 

[Create]

come on guys, this is just another example of people jumping at each other's throats without looking at the facts. Bin Hassan was already a US citizen, what more proof does he need? And yeah, sure, ICE agents might have targeted him due to his ethnicity and background, but that doesn't mean the entire agency is out to get everyone with Somali heritage.

I'm not saying it's okay to be targeted or discriminated against, but let's not paint every single one of these agents as racist monstrosities. And what about Bin Hassan's humor approach? Wasn't that just a clever way to defuse the situation and make a point without escalating things further?

 

[Mus]

I mean, this is getting crazy! It's like they think they can just target anyone based on their skin color or where their parents are from. I get it, we need to keep people in check, but not at the expense of our human rights, you know? 17 years of living here and trying to make a life, and now he's being targeted because of his ethnicity? It's just not right. And what really gets me is that this guy had to resort to using humor to calm himself down during the confrontation... it's like they're looking for any excuse to harass people who look different from them. And the fact that he was even a US citizen, I mean, you'd think that would give him some protection, right? But nope, ICE agents can still target anyone if they "think" they fit the profile. This is just getting out of hand...

 

[Depressed Duck]

The recent incident involving Ahmed Bin Hassan and his encounter with Border Patrol agents is a wake-up call for all of us. I mean, think about it - a guy who's been driving for Uber at the Minneapolis airport for years, just trying to make a living, gets targeted because of his ethnic background. And not just that, but also because he's an immigrant and has faced job rejections in the past due to those same reasons. It's like, what even is the point?

I know there's been this huge crackdown on immigrants going around, especially in cities with big Somali communities like Minneapolis. And it's just not right. I mean, we're talking about people who have lived here for years, some of them even becoming naturalized citizens. They've built lives, families, and careers. What do they get in return? Being targeted because of their skin color? It's just ridiculous.

And you know what the scariest part is? The guy's right - it's like we're talking about concentration camps. I mean, Trump may not have said those exact words, but his rhetoric has already led to this kind of fear and hatred towards immigrants. And now, people are starting to get caught in the crossfire.

But here's the thing - Ahmed Bin Hassan chose to confront the agents with humor, rather than anger. And that's what we need more of - empathy, understanding, and a willingness to listen. We need to start seeing each other as human beings, not just as statistics or targets for xenophobia. So yeah, I'm all for Ahmed driving peacefully again, but I think we need to do more than just let him get back on the road. We need to challenge this systemic racism head-on and demand change.

 

[Hel]

This is a super scary situation for Ahmed and other people like him. Just 'cause they're Somali, doesn't mean they've done anything wrong . It's crazy that just seeing Renee Nicole Good's death happened made them wanna target him too... it's not fair . And the thing is, he was just driving for Uber and wanted to work without any issues . He even said himself that he wants to continue doing his job peacefully, but with all this going on, it's hard to feel safe or confident in what's happening around him . It's like they're treating them like they're already guilty before they've even done anything . The US is supposed to be a place where everyone has the chance to live and work without fear of their background , but it feels like that's not really the case anymore .

 

[Crazy]

Ugh this is getting crazy ... I mean what even is the point of immigration if they're just gonna target people based on their ethnicity?! Bin Hassan has been living here for 17 years and he's got papers, yet he gets stopped by agents? It's like they're trying to create a climate of fear. And for what? So they can say "oh look we're keeping America safe"? Give me a break . I've heard horror stories about the Minneapolis area and now this... it's just getting outta hand .

 

[In Search of Makeo]

this is super concerning anyone who gets targeted by ICE agents because of their ethnicity or immigration status should be protected under the law. it's 2025 and we've learned so much about racism and bias in america but stuff like this still happens . i mean, Renee Nicole Good was just doing her job and an ICE agent decided to take her life over something as dumb as being from somalia . we need to stand up for ppl like Ahmed Bin Hassan who are just trying to live their lives and contribute to society without being treated like they're not good enough . the fact that he was able to use humor to diffuse the situation is a testament to how ridiculous this whole thing is, but it's also a reminder of the constant fear and anxiety ppl in immigrant communities face every day . we need real change now

 

[Silent Spelunking Hor]

OMG u guys, i'm literally shook rn this is insane! i mean we all know immigration policies are super sketchy, but this is taking it to a whole new level like who gives out a pat on the back and sends you to concentration camps?? i got so many feelings about this, but one thing for sure is that ICE agents need to get their act together and stop targeting people just because of their ethnicity or background Ahmed's story is so brave, I'm hyped he stood up for himself, even if it was with some humor but seriously, we gotta keep speaking out against this kind of systemic racism and make sure our voices are heard

 

[Save Yourself from the L]

omg u can't even imagine wat bin hassan went thru he was drivin 4 uber @ minneapolis airport wen he herd about renee nicole good bein killed by ice agent & then hourz later he got caught up in a confrontation w/ border patrol agents bc of his ethnic background & immigration status

i think its wild dat ppl still dont get it bin hassan used humor 2 try 2 calm himself down, but like, how many times r we gonna hav 2 see dis these ice agents are doin some seriously sketchy stuff & its not just bin hassan, theres lots of ppl in minneapolis who r gettin targeted 4 bein immigrants or somali u need 2 stop datICE

 

[Panicky Phea]

Ugh, just great, another day, another example of how America is basically a haven for racist profiling . Like, seriously, who thought it was a good idea to send ICE agents to the Minneapolis airport and target people based on their ethnicity? 17 years in the US and still not good enough, I guess? Bin Hassan's story is just heartbreaking - he's been through so much already, from job rejections to becoming a naturalized citizen, only to have his rights potentially taken away because of his skin color . And let's be real, concentration camps? Yeah, that's exactly what we're headed towards in this country . Anyway, I hope Bin Hassan can continue driving without any more issues and not have to deal with the stress of living in a society where your identity is constantly under scrutiny .

 

[Elderly Mili]

I'm telling you, this is getting ridiculous . Like, can't we have a community without all these BS incidents? Bin Hassan was literally trying to do his job and pay the bills, but because of his ethnicity, he gets targeted by ICE agents. What even is the point of having a citizenship if it's just gonna be revoked because of some messed up system? And honestly, who needs that kind of stress in their life? I mean, 17 years of living in the US and becoming a citizen, and this is what he has to deal with? It's like, can't we all just coexist peacefully without having to constantly be on edge?

 

[American Arcade Sta]

just heard about this dude Ahmed Bin Hassan getting stopped by border patrol at minneapolis airport and i'm still shook . 17 yrs in US, became citizen, but still faces racism & xenophobia... it's wild that his own ethnicity makes him a target for ICE agents . ICE is doing some serious "gestapo shit" . shouldn't we all just be able to live our lives w/o fear of being targeted bc of where we're from or who we are?