> At a Glance
> – ICE agent fatally shot a 37-year-old woman during a Minneapolis immigration operation
> – DHS claims driver tried to run over agents; Mayor Jacob Frey calls narrative “bulls—“
> – Kristi Noem labels incident “domestic terrorism”
> – Why it matters: Latest flashpoint in escalating federal-local tensions over aggressive immigration tactics
A routine ICE operation turned deadly Wednesday when an agent opened fire on a woman in Minneapolis, igniting a fierce dispute between federal officials and city leaders over what actually happened in the street.
Conflicting Accounts
Video shows agents surrounding a burgundy SUV before the driver reverses and moves forward. An agent near the hood draws his weapon and fires three shots. The vehicle then crashes into a parked car and light pole.
Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security spokesperson, insisted the woman “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers.”
Mayor Jacob Frey flatly rejected that version after reviewing footage:
> “Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is bulls—.”
Local vs. Federal Tensions
Minneapolis leaders moved quickly to distance themselves from the operation.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the vehicle appeared to be blocking the street, not attacking agents.
Witness Aidan Perzana, 31, disputed the federal account:
> “There was plenty of space between the officers at that point for the vehicle to make it through. It looked like the driver was trying to flee.”
After the shooting, residents gathered chanting and throwing snowballs at federal agents. Law enforcement responded with pepper spray and tear gas.
Escalating Operations
The incident comes as DHS floods Minneapolis with enforcement personnel:
| Deployment | Officers |
|---|---|
| Current ICE arrests since early December | 1,400 |
| New DHS officers incoming | 2,100 |
| Enforcement & removal officers | 1,500 |
| Homeland Security investigators | 600 |
Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, defended the agent’s actions:
> “He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers.”
McLaughlin described the shots as “defensive,” claiming the agent “saved his own life.”
Community Impact
The enforcement surge has already transformed daily life in Minneapolis:
- Somali-American residents report staying indoors
- FBI investigated Somali daycare centers after viral video claims
- State investigators found 10 targeted centers operating normally
Brandon Hewitt, a neighborhood resident, witnessed the aftermath:
> “I’m pretty right-leaning, but seeing this, this is not what you need to do. It’s not how we’re supposed to do things around here in America.”
Key Takeaways
- A 37-year-old woman is dead after an ICE agent fired into her vehicle
- Minneapolis mayor demands federal agents leave the city
- DHS is conducting its largest-ever Minnesota operation
- Community fears intensify as 2,100 additional officers arrive
- The shooting intensifies the clash between federal immigration enforcement and local officials
The woman’s death marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy, leaving Minneapolis officials openly defying federal authority. As Mayor Frey declared: “To ICE, get the f— out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here.”
