ICE arrest in Twin Cities strikes close to home for key witness who filmed George Floyd’s murder

A sister of the Minneapolis woman who filmed George Floyd’s murder five years ago was arrested as part of the federal immigration enforcement playing out in the Twin Cities.

Darnella Frazier, whose viral video of George Floyd’s murder five years ago by Minneapolis police shook the nation’s conscience about policing and racism, said over the weekend that her sister, Rekeya Frazier, was one of two people who were arrested last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the end of a miles-long encounter in two west metro suburbs.

Rekeya Frazier, 23, of Minneapolis, and boyfriend Oluwadamilola Bamigboye, 24, were charged Thursday in U.S. District Court with interfering with ICE agents in connection with the confrontation that began at a Plymouth apartment complex. It began with Bamigboye being questioned about his student visa status and ended with their arrests outside the New Hope police station.

Darnella Frazier, 22, posted on Facebook Sunday: “My sister is not a criminal. Why would she drive to the police station if she intentionally committed a crime? She was scared, as most of us would be.”

Darnella Frazier did not immediately respond to a message from the Minnesota Star Tribune seeking comment.

Immigration officers were conducting an operation that targeted Bamigboye, a native of Nigeria, because he overstayed a student visa that expired in 2024, according to Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin and the criminal complaint.

Wednesday’s immigration action is among many that have occurred primarily in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but also around the metro and in greater Minnesota, as part of the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge. It has been focused mostly on natives of Somalia and Latin America.

Rekeya Frazier and Bamigboye remain in federal custody without bail ahead of court appearances Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint:

Homeland Security agents were keeping watch at the apartment complex in pursuit of Bamigboye. The agents saw an SUV back into a parking spot next to Bamigboye’s car. Rekeya Frazier was driving the SUV, and Bamigboye was seated next to her.

Bamigboye apparently noticed the agents and pulled a mask over his face. He got out of the SUV, while Frazier also exited the vehicle but remained near the driver’s seat.

The agents walked toward the SUV, showing their identification and identifying themselves as officers. They told Bamigboye they wanted to talk to him about his immigration status. Bamigboye jumped in the back seat and screamed at Frazier to drive.

The agent in the front seat struggled to keep Frazier from putting the SUV into drive while Bamigboye tried to push him out of the way.

Frazier retained control of the SUV and began to drive, forcing the other agent “to jump back from the [SUV] to avoid being hit,” the complaint read.

Meanwhile, the agent seated next to Frazier “was now being involuntarily carried in the [SUV] as it drove,” the complaint continued.

The agent in the SUV demanded that Frazier stop while he continuously tried to put the vehicle in park.

As Frazier kept pushing the agent’s hand away from the gear shift, she threatened to crash the SUV. She told him they were heading to a police station.

Bamigboye, in the back seat, called 911. During the call, the agent yelled that he was a federal officer.

As Frazier kept driving, the agent drew his gun and ordered her to stop, but she kept going. Trailing her was the other agent with his vehicle’s lights and sirens on.

Frazier parked outside the New Hope police station, about 2 miles from the apartment complex. The agent in pursuit used his vehicle to block Frazier’s.

Bamigboye ran from the SUV to a nearby grocery store, prompting the agent who trailed the SUV to chase after him. The agent and a police officer confronted Bamigboye before he was taken to the floor and arrested. Frazier was apprehended outside the store.