Wisconsin sheriff schedules Friday press conference to address Skokie woman’s detainment claims

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office will hold a press conference on Friday to address claims that supporters of a Skokie woman made public last month, including that she was held in the Wisconsin county’s jail after being detained by federal immigration authorities. 

The briefing, which is not public but reportedly will be streamed live to the agency’s Facebook page, “will provide an in-depth overview of the matter and outline key information relevant to the public interest,” according to a notice sent Thursday from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Dale Schmidt has previously told The Record his office was investigating those claims. The notice says “specific details” of the investigation will be made public during the briefing.

Supporters of Summer Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi made headlines in March after a group stood outside a federal detention facility in Broadview on March 8 and claimed that the 28-year-old Skokie resident was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at O’Hare International Airport on March 5 while returning from an overseas work trip. 

Sarah Afzal, Naqvi’s sister, and Kevin Morrison, a family friend and then-candidate for the Cook County Board of Commissioners, alleged Naqvi was held at O’Hare for at least 24 hours, transported to Broadview and then transported to Dodge County’s jail before her apparent release on March 7. 

In a statement on social media, however, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security called the story “blatantly FALSE,” denied that federal officers held Naqvi at O’Hare for longer than 90 minutes on March 5, and published screenshots from surveillance footage at O’Hare that the department claimed showed Naqvi leaving an inspection area that morning. 

Likewise, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department issued a March 10 statement that it “has no record” of Naqvi ever being inside its jail. 

Naqvi did not speak publicly about her claims on March 8 and has not responded to The Record’s multiple attempts to contact her via phone, email and in person. The five coworkers with whom she reportedly was traveling have also not identified themselves.

Robert Held identified himself outside Broadview on March 8 as an attorney representing Naqvi and her family. When reached by phone on Thursday, Held said he does not represent Naqvi and has no comment.

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