A Somali-American woman who went viral after likening her identity to “bananas and rice” was among 16 people arrested in Minneapolis as federal authorities escalated enforcement following clashes with protesters, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The woman, Nasra Ahmed, 23, shot to national attention after remarks at a recent news conference spread across social media. “It’s kind of like bananas and rice,” Ahmed said. “People don’t think you can eat bananas with rice, but that’s what it’s like to be Somali and American.”
Bondi said Wednesday she was in Minneapolis as arrests were announced against people accused of assaulting or impeding federal law enforcement during the unrest.
“I am on the ground in Minneapolis today,” Bondi wrote on X. “Federal agents have arrested 16 Minnesota rioters for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement — people who have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement rights.
“We expect more arrests to come,” Bondi added. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law.”
Reuters, reporting on the latest developments in Minneapolis, also confirmed Bondi’s announcement of 16 arrests tied to obstruction/assault allegations amid ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement in the city.
🚨 BREAKING: Nasra Ahmed, the “bananas and rice” Somali, has been ARRESTED by DHS at the direction of Pam Bondi for obstructing ICE operations
This is just too perfect 🤣
Ahmed LIED about being brutalized by ICE. Notice how the band-aid is gone and there’s no wound! Loser! pic.twitter.com/BI2oS0inYP
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 28, 2026