ICE Agent Shoots Driver in Minneapolis
Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis: Woman Killed During ICE Operation Chaos
A 37-year-old woman was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis during the agency's largest immigration operation ever, sparking clashes with protesters and sharp criticism from local leaders.
A 37-year-old woman was fatally shot Wednesday morning in Minneapolis by an ICE agent during what the Department of Homeland Security called its "largest immigration operation ever," as federal agents conducted sweeping arrests across Minnesota, leading to tense confrontations with protesters and fierce backlash from city officials. The incident unfolded near 34th Street and Portland Avenue around 10:30 a.m., with over 100 federal agents descending on the scene afterward, clashing at times with demonstrators who threw snowballs, prompting responses with pepper spray and non-lethal paintballs.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated the agent fired in self-defense: "Today, ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them, an act of domestic terrorism. An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots. He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers. The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. Thankfully, the ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries." She linked the violence to a "1,300% increase in assaults" and "8,000% increase in death threats" against agents, blaming "sanctuary politicians."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the federal presence: "I am angry at the presence of immigration officials in the city." He called the self-defense narrative "garbage" and "not true," vowing: "We collectively are going to do everything possible to get to the bottom of this, to get justice, and make sure there is an investigation that is conducted in full." Frey added: "We dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis. They are not here to cause safety in this city. What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust. They're ripping families apart, sowing distrust, and in this case, quite literally, killing people." On social media, he demanded: "The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city. We’re demanding ICE to leave the city immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities."
City officials said the woman was not a target of enforcement. Witnesses reported a crashed car with a bullet hole in the driver's windshield and wreckage on two others. State Senator Omar Fateh claimed a doctor was denied access to perform CPR. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara had prepared for unrest, appointing supervisors and standby officers, urging peaceful protests and professional conduct from agents.
The operation has netted over 1,000 arrests in Minnesota, including 150 in Minneapolis Monday, targeting alleged fraud. The shooting highlights escalating tensions over immigration enforcement, with agents facing heightened risks amid political divides.