Claims of Unwarranted ICE-Related Detention Were a Hoax

6 hours ago

Sheriff Dale Schmidt is suing Sundas Naqvi and Kevin Morrison for defamation, alleging they falsely claimed Naqvi was illegally detained at Dodge County Jail from March 5-7, 2026.
Schmidt asserts that Naqvi was never booked at the jail; instead, she stayed at a Hampton Inn in Illinois and was later dropped off at a Holiday Inn in Wisconsin.
The court granted expedited discovery, allowing Schmidt to subpoena T-Mobile for Naqvi's cellphone records and hotels for surveillance footage to prove the claims were a hoax.
Judge Brett Ludwig found Schmidt made a prima facie defamation claim, as the false statements could harm his reputation, especially during a re-election campaign.
The court noted the records risk being overwritten, justifying expedited discovery, and that the information could help identify unknown Doe defendants.
Morrison, a Cook County Commissioner and former congressional candidate, publicly accused Schmidt of a cover-up and illegal detention, spreading the allegations via press conferences and social media.
Schmidt's complaint includes detailed allegations of Naqvi's actual whereabouts, based on security footage and hotel records, contradicting the detention story.

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