Brittney Griner says her Russia detention is comparable to ICE actions

Ahead of a Sundance premiere, Brittney Griner said a new documentary about her 2022 detention in Russia could shed light on parallels she sees with recent U.S. immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.

Brittney Griner spoke to The Hollywood Reporter before the Sundance premiere of a documentary about her detention in Russia. She said the film should serve as a warning about authoritarianism and linked her experience to recent immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. Griner was arrested in Moscow in February 2022 after customs found a small container of cannabis oil; she was sentenced and was freed after about 10 months in a prisoner swap negotiated by the U.S. government. Key facts: - Griner said the documentary "The Brittney Griner Story" aims to show what detention can be like and that viewers may see comparisons with U.S. immigration enforcement. - The article reports Griner was arrested in 2022 in Moscow over a small amount of cannabis oil, received a lengthy sentence, and was released after roughly 10 months in a swap. - The reporting notes two people, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis; federal officials described the incidents as confrontations. - The article says President Trump pledged to "de-escalate" in Minnesota and expressed support for an independent investigation, which has been announced as the next step. Summary: Griner's remarks and the new film are presented as part of a broader political conversation about detention, authority, and immigration enforcement. An independent investigation in Minnesota has been supported by national leaders; further developments are undetermined at this time.