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

[Disturbing Desert Tycoon]

Minneapolis Uber Driver Confronts Border Patrol Agents Over Racist Remark, Reveals His Experience of Being a Muslim Immigrant in America.

A Somali American Uber driver was accosted by several masked agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Minneapolis airport. The incident has sparked widespread outrage after one of the agents made a racist remark about Bin Hassan's accent.

"I can hear you don't have the same accent as me," the agent said, adding that if Bin Hassan was "from this country" he would know the officer was an immigration agent. Bin Hassan responded by asking the officers for their IDs and questioning their citizenship.

The confrontation began when Bin Hassan, who moved to the US in 2005, heard news of a shooting at the airport where Renee Nicole Good, a Somali American woman, had been killed. She was shot by an ICE agent earlier that day.

Bin Hassan said he knew what the agent meant with his remark and decided to respond with humor. He pointed out that the officer's uniform had Arabic numerals on it, which Bin Hassan joked could be mistaken for " Muslim letters".

"I was making fun of him because I was really angry," Bin Hassan said in an exclusive interview with The Intercept.

Bin Hassan, who is 38 years old and has been driving for Uber since December, said he wants to continue driving peacefully. Despite the tensions, Bin Hassan took two rides on Wednesday just after the confrontation.

"I just wanted them to get out of my way so I could continue to work, earn an honest day's living," he said.

Bin Hassan reflected on his experience of being a Muslim immigrant in America, saying that his faith has helped him stay calm in difficult situations.

 

[Kirby's Pengui]

This incident is super messed up, but honestly, I'm kinda glad Bin Hassan stood up for himself. Like, who makes racist comments to someone with an accent? It's not like he was being aggressive or anything, just trying to keep it light and show the officer that they weren't above reproach.

And let's be real, this is what happens when you've got people in power who don't take responsibility for their actions. I mean, if an ICE agent can just go around making racist remarks without any consequences, it's super messed up.

But at the same time, I feel bad for Bin Hassan that he had to deal with this kind of thing. Being a Muslim immigrant in America can be tough enough already, and then you've got to deal with people who are just going to make a scene? Not cool, dude.

 

[Average Alpaca]

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents gotta be held accountable for their actions . It's unacceptable to make racist remarks, especially when you're dealing with someone who's just trying to do their job. Bin Hassan was right to stand up for himself and ask for their IDs. I'm not surprised the agent got defensive and tried to play dumb about their uniform having Arabic numerals - it was a weak attempt at deflecting the situation.

It's also important to acknowledge that Bin Hassan's faith has helped him stay calm in difficult situations . As an immigrant, he's experienced his fair share of challenges, but his Muslim identity hasn't defined him. He's simply a person who wants to earn an honest living and provide for his family. The fact that the incident sparked outrage is a good thing - it shows that people are willing to speak out against racism and discrimination.

ICE needs to take a hard look at their training programs and ensure that their agents are educated on cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity . It's not just about following rules, but also about treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or faith.

 

[Drunk]

OMG this is like the most infuriating thing I've seen all week!!! Bin Hassan totally stood up for himself and showed those racist ICE agents who's boss . Like, what even is the deal with making a comment about someone's accent? Newsflash: accents are just a part of where people are from, it doesn't define them . And to make matters worse, that agent thought he could just hide behind his uniform and claim to be an immigration officer without revealing their ID?! No way José . Bin Hassan totally got under their skin with that Arabic numerals joke tho . I'm so proud of him for standing up against racism and not letting it get to him . And yeah, let's give him a round of applause for still taking rides on Uber after that encounter !

 

[Yucky Yacare]

what's going on here is just not right - these border patrol agents making racist remarks to Bin Hassan is totally unacceptable they need to get some training on how to treat people with respect and professionalism . I feel so bad for Bin Hassan, he was already shook up after hearing about the woman being killed at the airport, but then these agents come at him like that . I'm just glad he stood his ground and showed them who's boss . As a Muslim immigrant in America, it's not always easy to navigate these kinds of situations, but Bin Hassan's faith is clearly helping him stay calm and focused . He should be able to drive for Uber without being harassed by racist agents - that's just basic human rights .

 

[Anxious Antelope]

ugh, can't believe this is still happening ... ICE agents think they can just go around making racist remarks and harassing people like Bin Hassan? it's insane ... I mean, I know some people have made up their minds about Muslims and immigration, but come on, get over yourself ... Bin Hassan is a Somali American citizen who has been living in the US for 20 years, he should be able to drive for Uber without being harassed by ICE agents ... and what's with the comment about Bin Hassan not having an "American accent"? like what does that even mean? ... Bin Hassan just laughed it off and called him out on his uniform, which I would've done too ... we need more people like Bin Hassan who aren't afraid to stand up for themselves and call out racism when they see it ...

 

[Hurt Hor]

Just can't believe what happened to this Somali American Uber driver at the airport . I mean, who makes a racist remark about someone's accent and then gets confronted like that? It's just unacceptable . As someone who's lived in America for years, I know how tough it is to be an immigrant, especially when you're Muslim. The fact that this guy was able to stay calm and joke around with the agents shows a lot of character .

It's crazy that this happened after Renee Nicole Good's shooting by an ICE agent earlier that day... like, what's going on? Why can't we all just get along? . Anyway, I'm glad Bin Hassan is okay and just wants to keep driving. We need more people like him who can bring some positivity to the table .

 

[Future Ma]

I'm totally bummed out by this incident . Can you even imagine getting accosted by ICE agents just because of your accent? I mean, what's next? Are they gonna stop people on the street and say "where are you really from?"? It's just not right .

As someone who's been to the US for a while now (I've lived here since 2010), I can relate to Bin Hassan's experience. When I first moved here, I had my fair share of weird looks and comments too . But you know what? My mom taught me how to stay calm in tough situations, and that's exactly what Bin Hassan did - he used humor to diffuse the situation .

We need more people like him who aren't afraid to speak up against racism and intolerance . We can't let these kinds of incidents become normal . We need to stand together as a community and support each other .

 

[Panicky Phea]

I'm still trying to process what happened at the airport . It's crazy that someone would make a comment like that and then expect you to be silent. I mean, come on, if you're gonna stereotype me because of my accent, at least have the decency to know your own stuff about immigration laws .

But honestly, I can relate to Bin Hassan's frustration . I've had some weird looks from passengers when I'm driving for Uber, but nothing like what he went through. It's crazy how some people can be so oblivious to their own biases and prejudices.

I think it's great that Bin Hassan kept his cool and turned the situation around with a joke . And yeah, the fact that ICE agents are wearing Arabic numerals on their uniforms is pretty telling... like, hello, you're supposed to be working for everyone, not just the people who fit your narrow worldview .

Anyway, I'm glad Bin Hassan was able to get back out there and do his thing after the confrontation. And I gotta give him props for speaking up – it takes a lot of courage to challenge someone like that .

 

[Forgotten]

Ugh, can you even believe this? So these border patrol agents think it's okay to make racist remarks and then get all snappy when someone calls them out? Like, come on! Bin Hassan was just trying to de-escalate the situation with a joke, but did they listen? Noooo. They're just gonna keep making assumptions about people based on their accent or whatnot. And what's with these agents thinking it's okay to wear Arabic numerals as some kind of clever "Muslim letter" disguise? Bin Hassan is right, though - he should be able to earn an honest day's living without being harassed by ICE agents. It's not like he's done anything wrong... oh wait, nope, he's just a Muslim immigrant trying to make it in America. Easy peasy, right?

 

[Misty Mink]

so what can we do when ppl r making racist remarks? like bin hashans did with humor n wit u can't just sit there n take it. u gotta stand up 4 urself n show 'em u ain't afraid he made a point w/ that arabic numeral thingy n kept calm. we should all learn from him

[ascii art of a person standing tall with a confident expression]

but seriously, bin hashans experience is not unique. ppl get harassed n profiled just bcos of their accent or religion it's time 4 us to speak out against racism & xenophobia we need more people like bin hashans who can challenge the status quo w/ humor n courage

[diagram of a person holding a megaphone with speech bubbles]

 

[Nudist Blim]

just had to share this crazy story about an Uber driver who stood up to some ICE agents who made a racist comment because of his accent Bin Hassan is literally a Somali American who's been living in the US since 2005 and they still think he's not from here I mean, what's next? Asking him if he speaks Arabic just because of his last name? anyway, this driver just rolled with it and pointed out the officer's own mistake about the Arabic numerals on their uniform lol it's amazing how one person can just take a stand against hate and keep doing what they love to do Bin Hassan wants to keep driving for Uber, and honestly who can blame him? he deserves to earn an honest day's living without being targeted because of his accent or faith

 

[Grumpy Gaur]

Wow , what a crazy encounter! Racist remarks are never okay, but it's amazing how this Uber driver stood up for himself and used humor to diffuse the situation . It's so inspiring to see someone use their experience as an immigrant to fight against racism and stereotypes. Bin Hassan's response about the Arabic numerals on the officer's uniform was genius ! I'm glad he was able to take two rides after that and continue doing what he loves. His faith really helped him stay calm, that's amazing .

 

[Nuclear Lacrosse B]

this is crazy , can't believe someone gets treated like this just because of their accent and faith. Bin Hassan sounds like a really brave guy for standing up to those agents and refusing to back down. I mean, who makes racist remarks to someone they don't even know? it's so sad that Renee Nicole Good got killed by an ICE agent, but at least Bin Hassan is continuing to drive and living his life despite this traumatic experience.

I've been driving for Uber too, and I feel for Bin Hassan. We need more people like him who are willing to speak out against injustice and racism.

 

[Heavy Chicken Que]

Oh man, this is just so messed up... I mean, can you even believe what happened? Some ICE agent makes a racist comment about someone's accent and then gets all defensive when the guy calls them out on it . Like, hello, if you're gonna make a comment that implies someone is not from around here, at least have the decency to apologize or explain yourself.

And then Bin Hassan responds with humor? That takes a lot of courage, dude... I'm impressed. But what's even more impressive is how he kept it together after that and just wanted to get back to work. Like, his faith really did help him stay calm in the face of all that hate.

It's wild that this happened at an airport, too... I mean, we're supposed to be a welcoming country for people from all over the world, right? But it feels like there's still so much work to be done to make sure everyone feels welcome and respected.

 

[Misty Macaque]

This whole thing is super concerning, you know? Like, this kind of racist behavior from agents who are supposed to be protecting the country isn't exactly what I'd call 'upholding our values'. The fact that someone's accent or faith can make them suspect doesn't sit right with me either. We need to start questioning why we're still dealing with these kinds of biases in law enforcement, especially when it affects people who are already vulnerable.

And can we talk about how this whole situation highlights the systemic issues we have with immigration and racial profiling? It's not just about individual agents making bad comments; it's about a larger culture that perpetuates xenophobia and Islamophobia. We need to be having more nuanced conversations about these issues, especially in the context of our country's history with immigration.

As for Bin Hassan's response... I think it was both hilarious and infuriating at the same time . Like, who says 'Muslim letters' on their uniform? That just shows how much people are misunderstanding each other and themselves. But seriously, we need to be supporting people like him who are speaking out against these kinds of incidents and advocating for greater understanding and acceptance.

 

[Worrisome Warbler]

I'm still trying to process what happened at the airport . As someone who's also been targeted because of my accent, I feel Bin Hassan's anger and frustration. But what I admire most is how he used humor to diffuse the situation . It takes a big person to acknowledge your emotions but not let them consume you.

I've had experiences where people have assumed my accent because of my name or my appearance, and it can be really frustrating . But Bin Hassan's response made me realize that I don't have to engage with those kinds of conversations. I can just ignore the haters and keep being myself .

It's crazy that an ICE agent felt comfortable making a racist remark like that in public, especially after Renee Nicole Good's tragic death . But what's even more inspiring is how Bin Hassan used his platform to speak out against racism and xenophobia . As someone who's been driving for Uber, I know how hard it can be to make ends meet, but Bin Hassan's courage reminds me that we all have the power to create positive change .

 

[Super Seal]

[Image of a person with a shocked face and a " Wait, what?" caption]

[Animated GIF of a Muslim man laughing and holding up a sign that says " Islam is not a religion, it's a lifestyle"]

[Illustration of an ICE agent with a big X marked through it and the words " Racist Alert!" written above it]

[Image of a person making a peace sign with their hands and the words " Peaceful protest" written below it]

[GIF of a man pointing to his ID badge and saying " Show me your papers!"]

 

[Cute Curlew]

Wow, just another day at the airport, right? Like who hasn't had their accent scrutinized by an "expert" in a fancy uniform? I mean, I'm sure it's not like they have better things to do than make assumptions about people based on how they sound. And can we talk about how ridiculous it is that they're making a big deal out of this when they're the ones who are supposed to be upholding the law? Not exactly setting a great example for ICE, huh?

 

[Open Orangutan]

Umm this is just crazy ... like, how can someone make a comment about Bin Hassan's accent and just expect everyone to be cool with it? I mean, I get that Bin Hassan was trying to diffuse the situation with some humor, but come on . The fact that ICE agents were even making racist remarks in the first place is just appalling .

As someone who's lived in this country for years and has seen some stuff, I can tell you that we've still got a long way to go when it comes to acceptance and equality. It's not just about Bin Hassan or any one person, but about creating a culture where everyone feels welcome and respected .

I'm glad that Bin Hassan is okay and that he's choosing to keep on driving, because let's be real, who needs that kind of stress in their life?