A 37-year-old woman was fatally shot by an ICE agent this morning in a residential neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The killing occurred during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “targeted operation” in the city and comes amid an increased level of immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Hundreds of DHS agents have been deployed over the last month, with another 2,100 on their way.
Ice Shooting Caught on Video
A video of the shooting clearly shows a vehicle in the middle of the street that was attempting to block ICE activity when it took a right turn to exit the scene. As two officials approached the vehicle, a third agent fired three shots into the front windshield. The SUV then speeds forward and strikes a parked car a short distance away. A chaotic scene ensued with protesters calling out the agents for their actions.
The deceased woman has not yet been identified. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has stated that she was a “legal observer.” Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith added that the woman was a U.S. citizen. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said it does not appear the woman was the “target of any law enforcement investigation or activity.” The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) are investigating the incident, with the BCA focusing on the federal agent’s use of deadly force.
Reactions to the Shooting
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that “rioters” were “blocking ICE officers” during an operation, and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them. The ICE officer, fearing for his life and the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the public, fired defensive shots. The injured agents “are expected to make full recoveries.”
To which Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey retorted, “That is bullshit! The DHS statement that the shooting happened in self-defense is garbage. ICE was creating the kind of dysfunction and chaos that they claimed to be trying to help with. 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, they are sowing chaos in our streets, and, in this case, quite literally killing people. To ICE, get the f— out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite.”
Further Response
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty indicated that she, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Gov. Tim Walz plan to launch a local investigation to ensure that there is complete transparency surrounding the incident.
