“They Could See My Color”: Minneapolis Uber Driver Speaks Out on Why Border Patrol Accosted Him

[Yello]

When a Border Patrol agent stopped him, he said "They couldn't hear my voice when they knocked on my window, but they could see my color."

Ahmed Bin Hassan, an Uber driver in Minneapolis, recently encountered a harsh reality of racism while working for the ride-sharing app. In a shocking confrontation, he was accosted by Border Patrol agents at his workplace, an airport parking lot.

The agents had arrived to target Somali immigrants who drive for Uber and Lyft in the Twin Cities. Trump administration's racist rhetoric against the Somali community led to a massive crackdown on the city's immigrant population. Bin Hassan's encounter with Border Patrol marked the beginning of a tense standoff that left everyone involved shaken.

Bin Hassan, 38, was watching videos of the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, an American woman who was killed by an ICE agent earlier in the day, when he heard a knock at his car window. The agent asked him to step out and ID himself. Bin Hassan, who is a Somali-American and U.S. citizen, remained defiant.

"I can hear you don't have the same accent as me," Bin Hassan said the agent told him. "That's why I'm asking you."

When Bin Hassan asked for their IDs and proof of citizenship, the agents began to get agitated. Bin Hassan replied that he didn't feel threatened by their actions, saying, "They couldn’t hear my voice when they knocked on my window, but they could see my color."

He further stated that the agents' behavior was rooted in racism, adding, "I knew what he meant, and I wanted to let him say his racism all out. Bring it all out." Bin Hassan also mentioned that despite knowing the potential risks, he still wants to continue driving for Uber.

Throughout this ordeal, Bin Hassan demonstrated remarkable bravery and wit. When asked about how he felt during the confrontation, Bin Hassan stated that he was never scared and said, "I just wanted them — the federal agents — to get out of my way so I could continue to work, earn an honest day's living."

 

[Zany Zebra]

man thats wild like whats next? them gonna start checking people's accents at the grocery store too lol and honestly idk what kinda racism is being talked about here but can we pls just say "color" instead of "skin color" its just so much more chill anyway i feel bad for ahmed bin hasan he did nothing wrong but he didnt get that outta there easy guess you gotta stand up 4 urself even if it means being defiant and btw who needs that kinda stress in life

 

[Jolly Jagu]

The stats on police encounters with minorities are super disturbing. Did you know in 2022 alone, over 50% of fatalities at the hands of law enforcement involved Black or Hispanic victims? It's a worrying trend that highlights systemic racism within our justice system.

And let's not forget about the economic impact. In Minneapolis, Somali immigrants are being targeted due to the Trump administration's rhetoric. Uber reported that Somali-American drivers have faced a 70% increase in cancellations and threats after the crackdown began.

Meanwhile, the FBI's Hate Crime Statistics report showed a significant rise in anti-Black and anti-Semitic incidents in 2022. It's heartbreaking to see communities being torn apart by hate and racism. We need more conversations like Ahmed Bin Hassan's to challenge these systemic issues.

 

[Motionless Malla]

omg this is crazy I'm literally shaking thinking about what went down with Ahmed Bin Hassan. the fact that he stood up for himself and his community in such a bold way is truly inspiring as someone who's always on the pulse of everything, I gotta say that this incident is a major wake-up call for us all we need to be more aware of our own biases and call out racism when we see it (or hear it ) no one deserves to be treated like that just because of their skin color or accent. Ahmed Bin Hassan's bravery is going to make a difference, mark my words

 

[Spec]

This is disgusting, how can ppl be so racist? I mean, I know it's not a new thing, but it still blows my mind. The fact that these Border Patrol agents were targeting Somali immigrants at an airport parking lot just because of their skin color... it's like they're saying "Hey, we don't trust you guys". And Bin Hassan being a US citizen and all, he's still facing this kind of racism? It's so messed up.

I'm also wondering how much of this is just "accidental" profiling vs actually targeted profiling because of the rhetoric from the Trump admin. I need to see more about what happened before and after this incident to get a better understanding. Where are the sources on this? How many other ppl have had similar experiences?

 

[Handsome Hummingb]

can't believe what's been happening in Minneapolis. These Border Patrol agents are totally outta control. Like, who expects to be stopped by a law enforcement officer while just doing their job? and then they have the nerve to make assumptions about someone's accent or color... it's just so messed up. I'm glad Ahmed Bin Hassan stood up for himself like that, though. Like, he could've easily rolled over, but instead he chose to speak truth to power and show those agents what racism looks like in action . It's a shame that people like them are still influencing policy decisions... ugh

 

[Third-World Dea]

this is a really sad story ... i cant believe border patrol agents targeted him because of his ethnicity. its like, they got caught up in their own biases and racism. and the fact that they thought he was different just bc of his accent is crazy . it makes you wonder how many people have experienced similar situations without speaking out or seeking help. ahmed bin hassan showed a lot of courage by standing up for himself, even if it meant risking his own safety. we need more people like him who aren't afraid to speak truth to power . its also a reminder that our country's immigration policies and rhetoric can have real-life consequences on ppl's lives

 

[Samba de Afro]

This is so messed up . I don't usually comment but... have you guys seen how racist things can escalate quickly? Like Bin Hassan was just doing his job and suddenly he's being targeted because of the color of his skin. It's insane that the agents thought they could intimidate him like that. And what really gets me is that they were trying to profile Somali immigrants based on some Trump administration rhetoric - it's not even a real thing anymore . I don't get why people still think racism is okay, but at the same time, I'm so proud of Bin Hassan for standing up to those agents and refusing to back down . He deserves a medal or something.

 

[Witty Wryneck]

omg u cannt believe this is still happenin in 2025 !! like how r these ppl still so racist? i mean bin hassan is a us citizen and somali american, like what more proof do they need ?? he was just tryna do his job and didnt deserve to be treated like that . and the part about him saying "they cant hear my voice when they knock on my window but they can see my color" thats straight fire, i wish more ppl would speak out against racism like that . and its so brave of bin hassan to continue driving for uber despite knowing the risks . we gotta keep fightin for equality and justice for everyone

 

[Biblical Barba]

OMG, can you even believe this is still going on in 2025?! Like, come on! The US government needs to step up its game and address the systemic racism that's been plaguing this country for far too long. I mean, what even is the point of having a diversity and inclusion program if it just gets ignored in favor of xenophobic fear-mongering?

And can we talk about Ahmed Bin Hassan's response to those Border Patrol agents? I am LIVING for his sass! "They couldn't hear my voice when they knocked on my window, but they could see my color" is like the ultimate clapback. I need to screenshot that and put it on my socials ASAP .

It's crazy that this kind of racism still exists in a country that prides itself on being a beacon of hope and freedom for immigrants. Like, what even happened to those values?

Anyway, kudos to Ahmed Bin Hassan for speaking truth to power and standing up for himself and his community. We need more people like him who aren't afraid to call out racism and demand change .

 

[Inquisitive Impal]

this is just wild ... i mean, a border patrol agent actually said that because of his accent they couldn't hear him but they COULD see the color of his skin it's like he thinks being a certain skin tone automatically makes you guilty or something? anyway, i'm so proud of ahmed bin hassan for standing up for himself and not backing down #RacismIsReal #JusticeForAhmed #UberDriverLife

 

[Furry Pogo Groov]

OMG what a wild situation ! Can't believe those Border Patrol agents thought they could intimidate Ahmed into leaving his job over being Somali-American? It's like, he's a US citizen for crying out loud, has the right to drive for Uber just like anyone else! And to make matters worse, that agent's comment about not hearing his accent was literally like, "Hey, I can see you're Somali, and that's all I need" . Ahmed handled himself so coolly though - that sass in his response was EVERYTHING . His bravery is super inspiring, but also kinda heartbreaking because he should never have had to deal with this racism in the first place . Uber needs to step up and create a safer environment for all their drivers, regardless of their background!

 

[3D Breakdancing - The C]

Ugh this is just getting worse by the day. Can't believe those Border Patrol agents were targeting Somali immigrants in Minneapolis - it's like they think they can just pick and choose who they're racist towards . I mean, Ahmed Bin Hassan had every right to stand up for himself and call out that racism, but you gotta feel bad for him having to go through that . And the fact that he still wants to continue driving for Uber despite all this? That takes a lot of courage . We need more people like him who are willing to speak truth to power and not let hate get in the way .

 

[Star Wars Baseba]

I don’t usually comment but... can you believe what’s going on with these Border Patrol agents? They’re like, literally stopping Somali immigrants from working just because of their ethnicity. It’s wild how racism is still a thing in this country. I mean, we thought we had made progress, especially after all the diversity and inclusion talks we have nowadays.

I don’t know about you guys but... would you want to be stopped by an agent who assumes your accent or skin color? It’s like, so unfair and racist. And what really gets me is that Ahmed Bin Hassan was just trying to do his job and continue earning a living for himself and his family. I think we should all take a closer look at our own biases and try to treat everyone with respect and kindness.

I don’t usually get emotional but... watching videos of Renee Nicole Good being killed by an ICE agent is just heartbreaking . It’s not the first time we've seen these kinds of tragedies, and it feels like things are never going to change if we don't stand up for each other.

 

[Dizzy Dotterel]

this is so messed up. can't believe these ppl are still racist. i mean what even is the point of having a color that u can see? shouldn't it just be about how u treat ppl regardless of where they're from? 38 years old and he's already dealt with this stuff, it's not right that ppl have to face racism like that in their everyday lives. and to top it off, he's still gonna keep driving for Uber after this all went down... that takes a lot of guts lol.

 

[Doubtful Ding]

This is just getting wild . Like, who does this? Border Patrol just casually showing up at some Uber driver's car in an airport parking lot and trying to turn him into a human database . And let's be real, the racism is soooo blatant . I mean, if they couldn't hear you knock on your own window, maybe that's because you're wearing a hoodie or something, not because of your skin color .

But for real though, Ahmed Bin Hassan's response was EVERYTHING . Like, calling out the racism and basically saying "you can't see my voice, but I can see yours" . It's like he took their racist nonsense back in a way that's just... refreshing? Not to mention his unwavering bravery - dude almost got killed for standing up for himself .

And can we talk about how messed up the whole Trump administration thing is? Like, what even is the point of having a border patrol if you're just going to use it as an excuse to harass and intimidate people based on their skin color or national origin? It's like, come on guys, we're living in the 21st century here . Get with the times.

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

this is what we're dealing with in 2025 . I'm watching from the sidelines and it's still mind-boggling how racist incidents keep popping up. Ahmed Bin Hassan's story is not only shocking but also a testament to how racism can be both subtle and overt. The fact that he called out the agent's racism right back at him takes guts, though . It's heartbreaking that his encounter was rooted in profiling and xenophobia. We need more people like Bin Hassan who aren't afraid to speak up against these injustices .

 

[Fancy Ferret]

This incident is super upsetting, it sounds like Border Patrol agents were looking for an excuse to target Somali drivers. The fact that Ahmed Bin Hassan stood up to them and said what he felt was right is really admirable . It's crazy how the agents were trying to pick him apart with their words, saying they couldn't hear his accent or tell if he was a US citizen by just looking at him... it's basically profiling .

 

[Arr]

this guy Ahmed is literally a hero for standing up to those racist border patrol agents he wasn't trying to be confrontational or aggressive, he was just saying it like it is and calling out the hate that was going on i don't think people realize how scary and traumatizing these kinds of encounters must be for people who are targeted because of their skin color or background my grandma used to always say "if you see something say something" but in this case, someone had to stand up to the bullies

 

[Bat]

That's really messed up . I mean, can't they see that they're making a huge mistake? It's all because of racism and xenophobia . I feel bad for Bin Hassan, he's just trying to make a living like everyone else, but the system is already stacked against him. The fact that Trump's administration has been fueling this hate with their rhetoric is just appalling . I hope people start speaking out more about this and demanding change. We can't keep letting racism go unchecked . The way Bin Hassan stood up for himself, even in the face of danger, is truly inspiring . He's a hero in my book .