A 37-year-old woman was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday during a federal immigration operation, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Video of the incident circulated widely on social media, prompting immediate public backlash and conflicting interpretations from federal and local officials.
DHS stated that the woman attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon, claiming she tried to run over federal agents who were being blocked by a group of civilians. The agency said the agent discharged his weapon in response to what it described as a life-threatening situation.
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 sort of safety, and you are doing the opposite.
Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey challenged that characterization, saying available video footage does not show the vehicle being used aggressively against officers. Frey strongly criticized ICE’s presence in the city, arguing that federal immigration enforcement operations are exacerbating fear and instability in local communities.
The mayor said such actions are “ripping families apart, sowing chaos in the streets, and quite literally killing people,” underscoring longstanding tensions between city leadership and federal immigration authorities.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled the incident “an act of domestic terrorism,” asserting that ICE vehicles became stuck in snow and were under attack as the woman attempted to push them out. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the agent “acted quickly and defensively,” maintaining that the shooting was necessary to protect officers and bystanders.
The incident occurred amid a sharp escalation of immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. Since early December, ICE has arrested approximately 1,400 people in the city, a steep increase from roughly 300 arrests reported by mid-month. DHS has described the campaign as the largest federal immigration operation ever conducted in Minnesota, involving up to 2,100 personnel across enforcement and investigative divisions.
Domestic acts of terrorism like this will not stand, and I'm grateful that we have the leadership in Washington, DC, that recognizes it, and we'll make sure that it's working to keep every single community safe regardless of who's in charge in that city.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
The operation follows allegations circulated by a conservative content creator claiming widespread fraud at Somali-run daycare centers in Minneapolis. While the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations examined the claims, Minnesota state authorities reported no evidence of wrongdoing after reviewing ten targeted facilities.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reiterated that his department does not enforce immigration law and warned that the scale and visibility of the federal operation risk provoking political unrest. Community leaders report that many Minnesota residents of Somali descent, including U.S. citizens, have begun avoiding public spaces out of fear of increased scrutiny and enforcement.
As investigations into the shooting continue, the incident has become a flashpoint in the broader national debate over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and the unintended consequences of aggressive operations within civilian communities.