Independent journalist Nick Sortor faced a violent robbery in Minneapolis' Cedar Riverside area, a neighborhood with heavy Somali-American presence. He
recounted on X how a group of Somali men stole his $1,000 camera before speeding off in a car, trapping his hand in the door handle and dragging him down the icy sidewalk. "A group of Somali thugs just ROBBED me... NOBODY bothered helping," Sortor posted, urging DHS to "raid this place." The incident unfolded amid his on-the-ground reporting, drawing quick FBI response: "We're on it." Sortor, a conservative influencer with over 1 million X followers by early 2026, specializes in raw coverage of riots and protests. His Minneapolis trip already saw chaos on January 11, when anti-ICE protesters swarmed his vehicle alongside creator Cam Higby, smashing windows and forcing a drive-through escape. Federal agents deployed tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the mob near a federal building.
🚨 BREAKING: A group of Somali thugs just ROBBED me of my $1,000 camera in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis
They then DRAGGED ME DOWN THE STREET as my hand got trapped in their door handle
NOBODY bothered helping
DHS MUST RAID THIS PLACE! pic.twitter.com/DXI426E9AY— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 18, 2026
This attack caps a pattern for Sortor. In October 2025, Portland police arrested him while filming at an ICE facility, charging disorderly conduct—later dropped for lack of evidence. He sued the city for $10 million, alleging viewpoint discrimination, which sparked a U.S. Department of Justice probe into political targeting.
Sortor's Rise Amid High-Risk Reporting
Sortor's aggressive style earned White House cred. President Donald Trump hosted him for a roundtable post-Portland, praising his grit. The journalist's feeds capture unfiltered unrest, from Portland clashes to Minneapolis ICE fury tied to a recent fatal shooting by agents.
We’re on it. https://t.co/NfTouaIb0a
— FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response) January 19, 2026
FBI involvement signals federal scrutiny, especially in a city tense over immigration enforcement. Hennepin County deputies intervened in prior mob scenes, but this solo drag went unchecked by witnesses. Sortor's video evidence, if released, could fuel demands for ICE sweeps.
🇺🇸 NICK SORTOR ROBBED AND DRAGGED BY CAR IN MINNESOTA, COPS: "SUCKS TO BE YOU"
Cops showed up and told Nick to leave the area to “keep the peace.”
This was after he was dragged 40 feet trying to stop the thief and followed for 30 minutes through a Somali neighborhood by people… pic.twitter.com/yKFyFw93wm— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 19, 2026
Cedar Riverside, dubbed "Little Mogadishu," simmers with cultural clashes. Sortor's framing as "thugs" echoes conservative critiques of sanctuary policies under past mayors. No suspect details emerged, but his callout risks escalating local divides.
Federal Response and Broader Backlash
The FBI's "We're on it" reassures amid Sortor's DHS plea. Public see these attacks as assaults on press freedom. Meanwhile, Sortor's no stranger to swarms—Portland's lawsuit alleges police bias against right-leaning voices. Minneapolis anti-ICE rage, sparked by an agent's shooting, turned uglier with his robbery.
Community leaders decry stereotyping Somalis, but Sortor insists facts over feelings. As video circulates, expect raids or charges soon. Trump allies frame it as illegal immigrant fallout, tying to border chaos.
