'Blatantly false': DHS says US citizen Sunny Naqvi never taken into custody, was allowed to leave within 90 minutes

The Department of Homeland Security rejected the story of Sunny Naqvi, a US citizen who claimed she was taken into custody and was released after 43 hours, and said Naqvi was released within 90 minutes of herarrival to the United States. Naqvi was not taken into custody and was neither transferred to the ICE for detention, the DHS said, adding that she was only referred to secondary inspection

"The passenger’s claims are blatantly FALSE. Sunny Naqvi, arrived at O’Hare at 10:21 a.m. on March 5, 2026. CBP officers referred her to Secondary, for additional inspection based on law enforcement checks and conducted a baggage exam. Ms. Naqvi departed CBP within 90 minutes of her arrival to the United States. Ms Naqvi was not taken into custody or transferred to ICE for detention," the DHS said.




According to reports based on the account of Naqvi's sister, Sunny was supposed to travel to India but that international travel plan fell through. The group of six went on to continue traveling domestic. As they arrived back at Chicago airport, all of them were detained because of what Sunny's attorney called a "curious travel history". Naqvi's family claimed she was detained at the airport and then was sent to Broadview. They claimed that they lost Naqvi's location while federal agents continued to tell them that Naqvi was not in custody.





Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison said the administration has been lying since the beginning as they detains American citizens without due process. All six of the group are in the US legally. Morrison said Naqvi was detained from Thursday to Saturday.

On Saturday morning, as Morrison said, Naqvi walked to a nearby gas station and hitchhiked to a Holiday Inn for refuge before her sister was able to contact her.

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said they have no record of Naqvi being booked, detained or released from the jail.