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Dodge County Sheriff Files $1 Million Defamation Lawsuit Over False ICE Detention Claim
A sheriff in Dodge County, Wisconsin, filed a federal defamation lawsuit seeking at least $1 million against a 28-year-old U.S. citizen and others for alleging unlawful detention by ICE. The lawsuit states the woman was at a hotel receiving spa treatments during the claimed period. Authorities released hotel records and surveillance footage to support their position.
Apr 13, 4:25 PM·2m read1 source
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Response and Evidence The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the claims as false and released surveillance footage from the airport.
The footage shows Naqvi entering a secondary inspection zone on March 5, 2026, and leaving about one hour later.
The Dodge County Sheriff's Office reported no record of Naqvi being booked, detained, or released at the jail. During a press conference on Friday, officials from the office presented evidence including a hotel bill and text messages to detail Naqvi's activities. She checked in at 1:17 p.m. on March 5, 2026, about 10 minutes from the airport.
Stay and Activities Text messages exchanged by Naqvi over the following days reference enjoying free food, spa services, and gym visits.
Examples include requests to use a card for food orders, to check out the gym, and to pay a spa provider. The witness in the messages also drove Naqvi to a nearby gas station in the early hours of March 7, 2026. Surveillance footage from the gas station shows Naqvi wearing the same clothes as in a later Facebook photo posted as a "reunited" image hours afterward.
The hotel folio records her checkout on the afternoon of March 8, 2026. Wisconsin authorities stated they could not bring criminal charges but are pursuing the matter through the civil lawsuit. The lawsuit requests a jury trial and cites reputational harm to the sheriff, particularly ahead of a 2026 re-election campaign.
The sheriff's lawyer stated the suit addresses a fabricated story pushed into the national spotlight without verification. Naqvi and other involved parties could not be reached for comment, and it is unclear if they have retained legal representation.
Context and Next Steps This case involves allegations of false claims about interactions with federal immigration authorities, which drew media and public attention.
