An agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fatally shot a woman during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS confirmed that the shooting occurred while ICE officers were conducting operations in the city. The woman killed was a U.S. citizen who had been observing the enforcement activity, according to Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez, who said she was “watching out for our immigrant neighbors.”
Video from the incident circulated online, with many people observing that what can be seen contradicts the federal government's assertion that the agent acted in self defense.
Despite the videos, DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, said the woman was shot after allegedly attempting to drive her vehicle into federal agents. McLaughlin described the shooting as involving “defensive shots” and characterized those present as part of a group of “rioters.” Authorities have not released the name of the woman who was killed or the identity of the ICE officer involved.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem addressed the incident during a press briefing in Texas, calling it an act of “domestic terrorism" despite having no real evidence to suggest it. In what appears to be a total fabrication, Noem said ICE officers became stuck in the snow due to severe weather conditions while conducting enforcement activity and were attempting to free their vehicle when, according to her account, the woman attacked them and attempted to ram officers with her car.
Local officials pushed back sharply against the federal presence in the city following the shooting. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was aware of the incident and demanded that ICE immediately leave the city.
“The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city,” Frey said in a statement shared on social media. “We’re demanding ICEto leave the city immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”
He also said, "To ICE, Get the fuck out of Minneapolis. We don't want you here."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said his office was working to gather additional details about the shooting and urged residents to remain calm as information continues to emerge.
The shooting comes amid a major escalation of federal immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities. Multiple sources familiar with the plans say a large-scale deployment of ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents is underway, with numbers potentially reaching into the thousands.