Illinois Woman Sued for $1 Million After Allegedly Faking ICE Detention During Spa Stay

Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi, a 28-year-old US citizen from the Chicago area, is the subject of a $1 million federal defamation lawsuit after authorities alleged her claims of being detained by ICE were a complete fabrication. The lawsuit was filed on April 10, 2026, by Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, who accuses Naqvi and Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison of spreading a false narrative for political gain.

Naqvi originally claimed she was held in custody for nearly 48 hours after arriving at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport from Turkey in early March. She alleged that officials moved her between multiple facilities in Illinois before finally transporting her to the Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin.

However, investigators now state that while Naqvi claimed to be behind bars, she was actually staying at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Rosemont, Illinois. Hotel records show she checked into the property on March 5 and remained there until March 8, enjoying spa treatments and gym access.

Legal filings include text messages where Naqvi reportedly asked to use a credit card for food, fitness facilities, and services from her “spa lady.” Surveillance video from O’Hare Airport further contradicts her account, showing her leaving the facility just 90 minutes after entering secondary inspection.

Additional gas station footage and witness statements place Naqvi outside of any detention facility during the exact hours she claimed to be locked up. The Department of Homeland Security backed the sheriff’s findings, stating there is zero record of Naqvi ever being taken into ICE custody.

Commissioner Morrison had previously amplified the story during a press conference, fueling national outrage by suggesting Naqvi was dumped on the street without her belongings. This narrative was widely circulated before physical evidence and digital logs were reviewed.

Sheriff Schmidt, who is currently seeking re-election, stated the lawsuit is necessary to combat the spread of unverified fiction that damages reputations. Neither Naqvi nor Morrison have issued a public response to the federal lawsuit as of Monday.