Dodge Co. Sheriff Sues Woman Over ICE Detention Hoax

Investigation timeline and evidence

Sheriff Schmidt’s office conducted a multiagency review to separate fact from viral claims. Federal and local records, hotel folios, surveillance footage and WhatsApp messages are cited in the complaint as evidence that contradict Naqvi’s account.

Airport inspection and timing

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records cited by the sheriff, Naqvi entered secondary inspection at O’Hare International Airport at about 10:46 a.m. on March 5 and was released at about 11:42 a.m. Federal authorities indicated there was no subsequent detention or transfer after she left the airport. Fox News

Hotel folios and surveillance

Investigators say hotel records place Naqvi at the Rosemont Hampton Inn & Suites beginning at 1:17 p.m. on March 5 — about an hour after airport release. The hotel folio reportedly lists room charges and purchases from March 5–8. Surveillance video and transaction logs are cited in the sheriff’s complaint as tying her to the hotel during the timeframe she later claimed to be in custody. Fox News

WhatsApp messages and activity

WhatsApp threads from the period show Naqvi actively communicating from the hotel about food, work and daily plans and at one point asking to use a card to order food. A message referring to “spa services” was highlighted by Sheriff Schmidt, who noted there is no spa at facilities she claimed to be held in.

“Now, I don’t know about you, and my staff have never reported one — there is no spa at Broadview in Chicago, Illinois. I can also tell you there is no spa lady in our jail here in Dodge County.” — Sheriff Dale Schmidt

No local booking records, sheriff says

Dodge County officials told reporters there is no booking, detention or release record involving Ms. Naqvi in their jail. The sheriff’s office says there was no coordination with federal or out‑of‑state agencies that would support claims she had been held in Dodge County custody. Investigators described the assembled timeline as “not physically possible” given the records reviewed. Fox News

Lawsuit and public claims

The Dodge County Sheriff lawsuit names Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi and also details statements by Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, who publicly claimed Naqvi and five others had been transported across state lines by immigration agents. Schmidt’s complaint disputes those allegations and accuses Morrison of suggesting a cover‑up and asserting officials had been “lying from the very start.”

Sheriff Schmidt framed the legal action as an effort to correct the public record after what he called “unverified allegations” drew broad online attention. Dodge County is not the place you want to make up a hoax about, Schmidt warned, saying the county would hold people to account for knowingly false claims about local detention.

How the story spread online

The claim that Naqvi had been detained was widely shared on social media and amplified by several accounts and commentators. The X account “Libs of Chicago” compared the situation to the Jussie Smollett case, suggesting Naqvi lied about detention. The Smollett case is frequently referenced as shorthand when public claims are later found to be false or exaggerated. Fox News; Background on the Jussie Smollett case

Why authorities say records matter

Officials stress that the documentary trail — airport inspection logs, hotel folios, surveillance footage and messaging records — is critical to verifying detention or transfer claims. In this instance, authorities say the paper and digital trail places Naqvi at the Rosemont hotel during much of the period she later alleged she was in immigration custody, undercutting claims of secret transfers or cross‑state custody.

The Department of Homeland Security earlier told reporters it found no record supporting Naqvi’s claims of detention beyond routine secondary inspection at O’Hare, a point county officials have cited. Fox News

Implications for Las Vegas, Nevada

Although the case centers in Wisconsin and Illinois, local leaders in other metro areas — including Las Vegas — may see ripple effects:

• Economic and community trust: False high‑profile claims about immigration detention can erode trust in local and federal agencies and divert attention from other priorities.
• Local politics: Rapid online amplification of unverified allegations can pressure elected officials to take early stances, affecting campaigns and municipal debates.
• Law enforcement transparency: The case underscores the role of public records in verifying claims and may prompt calls for clearer booking and detention records while protecting privacy.
• Community relations: Immigrant service groups may demand clearer reporting channels and public education to prevent viral misinformation from straining relationships with law enforcement.
• Media literacy: Newsrooms and readers alike are reminded to verify records before sharing or endorsing viral claims.

Sources and further reading

• Fox News reporting on the Dodge County Sheriff lawsuit and investigation
• Background on the Jussie Smollett case
• Good Morning America on Smollett legal developments
• CBS coverage of Smollett civil action and related reporting

Note: Legal filings in this case are public and may be updated as the Dodge County Sheriff lawsuit proceeds. The sheriff’s office and legal counsel have said they will present records and evidence in court to support their claims.