CHICAGO — The U.S. Homeland Security Department denied a claim by a traveler that she was detained at O’Hare International Airport and held two days before being released 150 miles away in Wisconsin. “Blatantly FALSE,” said a Homeland sSecurity pokesperson in all caps. The written Homeland Seciurty response to news media queries:
“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.”
Television station WMTV asked for copies of surveillance footage from O’Hare to resolve inconsistent between the Navqi and the Homeland Security accounts. The request was denied.
Five O’Hare detentions
Naqvi and five colleagues, — two other U.S. citizens and three individuals with green card work permits — were detained at the airport by federal immigration agents for their “recent travel history” after returning from Istanbul. Not knowing what had befallen her, Naqvi’s family panicked and called authorities. Thirty hours later, the family receive a call from Naqvu 150 miles away in Wisconsin. She claimed having been e in federal custody all the time tand ransported to Wisconsin.