A fatal shooting by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday intensified conflict between federal authorities and local officials as the city faces mounting public unrest over an expanded immigration enforcement presence.
The Department of Homeland Security said that during enforcement operations near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue, an ICE agent shot and killed a woman who was inside a vehicle. According to federal officials, the woman attempted to use her vehicle to strike officers, leading the agent to open fire. Neither the woman nor the officer has been publicly identified by DHS.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that the agent fired “defensive shots” after officers felt threatened. She described the woman as part of a group of “rioters” who were interfering with the agents. McLaughlin said, “An ICE officer, fearing for his life and the lives of his fellow law enforcement, fired defensive shots.” She also noted that injured officers are expected to recover.
Local leaders disputed the federal government’s account. Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez told ABC News the woman was a U.S. citizen observing the operation out of concern for her neighbors. “She was an observer,” Chavez said. “She was watching out for our immigrant neighbors.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the incident “an act of domestic terrorism,” sparking criticism from immigration advocates and officials. At a Texas press briefing, Noem said ICE vehicles became stuck in snow, and officers were pushing them free when the incident escalated.
Noem explained, “Our ICE officers were conducting an enforcement action when their vehicle became stuck in the snow. As they tried to push it free, a woman attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanded ICE leave the city, saying the federal presence has destabilized neighborhoods and undermined public safety. “The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city,” Frey said. “We’re demanding ICE leave immediately. We stand with our immigrant and refugee communities.”
The city echoed this stance, saying it knew of “a shooting involving a federal agent” and urged residents to avoid the area. “The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos and making our community less safe,” the statement said, noting details were still being confirmed.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said state officials were gathering information about the shooting and urged calm. “We will share information as we learn more,” Walz posted on X. “In the meantime, I ask folks to remain calm.”
A heavy law enforcement presence surrounded the scene as protesters gathered nearby. Witnesses and media reported that some demonstrators were pepper-sprayed as officers tried to control the crowd. The protests occurred during one of the largest recent immigration enforcement surges in the Twin Cities.
Sources familiar with federal plans told ABC News that up to 2,000 ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents could be deployed to Minneapolis, significantly expanding the federal presence.
Officials say the enforcement surge is partly due to allegations of fraud involving Somali-run childcare centers, which the Trump administration has highlighted. State authorities have questioned claims of widespread wrongdoing.
Noem visited Minneapolis a day before the shooting to observe immigration enforcement, highlighting the administration’s focus on the city’s role in the national immigration debate.
As investigations continue, Minneapolis faces a growing confrontation between federal immigration enforcement and local resistance, now heightened by the death of a U.S. citizen and renewed calls for accountability and transparency.
