ICE Officer Fatally Shoots Woman During Immigration Operation In Minneapolis

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MINNEAPOLIS — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a woman in the face Tuesday in a south Minneapolis neighborhood during a large federal immigration enforcement operation.

The shooting happened near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue, according to authorities.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the officer fired after the woman allegedly tried to run over law enforcement personnel with her vehicle. DHS described the vehicle as being used as a weapon.

Footage shows officers approaching the vehicle amid shouts and chaos, but witnesses’ audio reactions of shock and accusations of criminality underscore the ambiguity surrounding threat perception and the need to use deadly force during the raid.

The incident fuels a broader debate about federal immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities such as Minneapolis, as DHS reports a 1,300% rise in officer assaults, even as Gov. Walz calls for calm amid emerging protests.

Critics argue that videos show an ICE agent shooting an unarmed woman as she drives away.

Supporters attribute the incident to inflammatory rhetoric, citing Walz’s May 2025 speech likening ICE to the “modern-day Gestapo.” DHS condemned the statement as “sickening,” and many linked it to rising threats against federal agents.

The operation was part of a broader federal immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities. Large numbers of federal agents were deployed to Minneapolis and St. Paul following allegations of immigration-related fraud, according to federal officials.

Local officials reported a heavy presence of both federal and local law enforcement at the scene.

The shooting quickly drew protesters, who gathered behind police tape and shouted slogans including “Shame! Shame!” and “ICE out of Minnesota!”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) sharply criticized the federal operation. He said the presence of immigration enforcement agents was “causing chaos in our city” and called for ICE to leave Minneapolis and the state immediately.

In a statement posted on social media, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said the officer acted in self-defense. She said the officer feared for his life, the safety of other officers, and the public when confronted with the alleged vehicle threat.

As Mediaite reports:

The shooting was triggered by a “ramming incident,” Assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security Director Tricia McLaughlin told NBC News.

“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,” ICE said in a statement. “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 woman, who has not been identified, was later pronounced dead, McLaughlin said.

After the shots were fired, a group of protesters began tossing snowballs at agents, according to KARE 11.

The shooting comes amid ongoing controversy over immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. ICE activity in the area has previously sparked protests and clashes, reflecting deep political and community divisions over federal immigration policy.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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