ICE Agent Fatally Shoots U.S. Citizen in Minneapolis During Immigration Raid: What We Know
Federal authorities and witnesses give conflicting accounts as tensions explode in South Minneapolis neighborhood
Last Updated: January 7, 2026
Breaking News Summary
MINNEAPOLIS — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a 37-year-old U.S. citizen Wednesday morning during what federal officials describe as the largest immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota history, triggering intense protests and escalating tensions between local and federal authorities.
The deadly shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. near the intersection of East 34th Street and Portland Avenue in Minneapolis’ Powderhorn Park neighborhood, prompting Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to publicly demand ICE agents leave the city.
“To ICE, get the f— out of Minneapolis,” Frey said during an afternoon press conference. “We do not want you here. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust. They are ripping families apart, sowing chaos in the streets and, in this case, quite literally killing people.”
What Happened: Two Conflicting Stories
Federal Officials’ Account
The Department of Homeland Security claims the woman “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them—an act of domestic terrorism,” according to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
McLaughlin stated that an ICE officer “fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking at a press briefing in Texas, said ICE agents had gotten stuck in the snow due to adverse weather conditions when the incident occurred.
“He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers,” McLaughlin said, adding that several ICE officers were injured but are expected to make full recoveries.
Witnesses Tell Different Story
Multiple eyewitnesses at the scene sharply dispute the federal government’s version of events.
According to a witness account shared by Washington Post reporter Evan Hill, the woman “was trying to turn around” after being told to leave when an ICE agent at the front of her car reached “across the hood” and shot her “in the face” several times.
Another witness told KARE 11 that the victim was trying to flee from ICE agents when she was shot dead.
Video footage circulating on social media appears to show the burgundy SUV driving away as shots are fired before the vehicle crashes into a light pole. Photos from the scene show a single bullet hole through the windshield on the driver’s side, with blood visible on the deployed airbag and headrest.
Who Was the Victim?
The victim has been identified as a 37-year-old woman and U.S. citizen, though her name has not been officially released pending family notification.
Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez told ABC News the woman “was an observer” who was “watching out for our immigrant neighbors.”
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar also described the victim as a “legal observer” in her statement demanding ICE leave Minneapolis.
Witness Venus de Mars, a local musician who lives on the block, told reporters she saw paramedics performing CPR on the shooting victim in a snowbank and described her as appearing to be a white woman.
Allegations of Medical Care Denial
Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh said he received reports that “a doctor was denied the ability to provide lifesaving CPR by federal law enforcement.”
University of Minnesota law professor Liliana Zaragoza, who was in the area at the time, reported seeing first responders performing CPR on a person on the sidewalk who “looked lifeless from the moment I saw them.”
Tyrice Jones, a local resident, told Sahan Journal he heard gunshots followed by a crash and saw a woman who appeared to know the victim crying in front of an apartment building, asking for a doctor.
Chaos Erupts at Crime Scene
More than 100 federal agents descended on the scene following the shooting, joined by Minneapolis police officers and officials from multiple agencies. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino was spotted at the scene, underscoring the scale of the federal operation.
Protesters quickly gathered, chanting anti-ICE slogans and throwing snowballs at federal officials. Immigration officials responded with pepper spray and tear gas. Helicopter footage captured an SUV carrying federal agents deploying chemical irritants as it tried to escape through an alley.
Fox 9 reporter Karen Scullin and her photographer were hit by pepper spray at the scene. Witnesses reported that protesters refused to let ICE agents leave the area.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who has publicly stated his department does not enforce immigration laws, had officers establish barriers between federal agents and protesters. Minneapolis officers were heard saying “This is a crime scene” while taping off the area.
Political Leaders Demand Federal Withdrawal
Mayor Issues Explicit Demand
Mayor Frey issued one of his strongest statements yet, declaring: “The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”
Senator Issues Safety Warning
U.S. Senator Tina Smith called for ICE to leave Minnesota, posting: “A U.S. citizen has apparently been shot by ICE agents in Minneapolis. I’m gathering information, but the situation on the ground is volatile. ICE should leave now for everyone’s safety.”
Governor Calls for Calm
Governor Tim Walz said his public safety team was working to gather information about the shooting, adding: “We will share information as we learn more. In the meantime, I ask folks to remain calm.”
Rep. Omar: “ICE Must Stop Terrorizing”
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose district includes the shooting location, stated: “ICE must stop terrorizing our communities and leave our city.”
Largest Federal Immigration Operation in State History
The shooting occurred during what DHS describes as “the largest DHS operation ever” in Minnesota, with up to 2,100 ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents deployed to the Twin Cities area.
Since arriving in Minneapolis in early December, ICE officers and agents have arrested approximately 1,400 people, according to DHS spokesperson McLaughlin—a dramatic increase from roughly 300 arrested by December 12.
Border Patrol agents just arrived in Minneapolis on Wednesday and began operations the same day as the shooting.
The enhanced enforcement follows a visit Tuesday from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who announced the expanded operations targeting the Minneapolis area.
Investigation and Accountability Questions
Local Officials Demand Transparency
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her office is “pushing hard” for state and local investigators to review the incident.
“We will use every available lever to ensure a local, transparent investigation takes place,” Moriarty stated.
Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez, who represents the area where the shooting occurred, stated at the scene that “the ICE agent that shot somebody should be arrested effective immediately.”
Complex Jurisdiction Issues
The shooting raises difficult questions about jurisdiction and accountability when federal agents use deadly force in cities where local officials have explicitly opposed immigration enforcement activities.
Minneapolis has long been considered a “sanctuary city,” with local law enforcement declining to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The deadly shooting has intensified the already tense relationship between federal immigration officials and Minneapolis leaders.
Multiple Agencies Investigating
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are examining the scene. The investigation is expected to involve review of video evidence, witness statements, and forensic analysis.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office stated it wasn’t involved in the incident but is sending deputies to assist investigators as needed.
Context: Trump Administration’s Immigration Enforcement Push
The incident represents the most serious escalation yet in the ongoing clash between the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy and cities like Minneapolis that have declared themselves sanctuaries for immigrants.
Focus on Somali Community
The rush of enforcement follows the posting of a video by a conservative content creator the day after Christmas that alleged Somali-run daycare centers in Minneapolis were defrauding American taxpayers.
The FBI surged investigators to look into the allegations, though the state of Minnesota concluded from on-site checks of 10 Somali daycare centers that they were operating normally, with children present at every site except one.
President Donald Trump disparaged Somalis last month, saying they had destroyed Minneapolis. He called Rep. Ilhan Omar “garbage” and said Somalis should return to where they came from. Omar’s family fled civil war in Somalia and lived in a Kenyan refugee camp before moving to the U.S. and becoming a citizen.
Similar Incidents in Other Cities
In Chicago last October, federal prosecutors accused two individuals of “boxing in” federal immigration agents and ramming an agent’s vehicle. The Justice Department said agents then fired five shots at one of the suspects while she was still inside her car. She was able to drive away and receive medical treatment. Charges against her were later dropped six weeks after the incident.
The Minneapolis shooting appears to follow a pattern of increasingly confrontational encounters between ICE agents and community members in cities where federal immigration enforcement faces local resistance.
Community Response and Next Steps
The incident is likely to further inflame tensions in Minneapolis between federal immigration authorities and local communities, particularly within the city’s significant Somali and immigrant populations.
Local community leaders have called for calm while demanding answers about what happened and accountability for the use of deadly force.
The fatal shooting comes just one mile from where George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police in 2020, in an area known for its immigrant markets and diverse communities.
