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New Delhi: A woman was shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday during a widespread immigration crackdown ordered by the Trump administration in the major US city. The federal officials, however, sought to defend the officer who opened fire at the woman, claiming that it was an act of self-defense.
The shooting comes amid a series of immigration enforcement operations being conducted in major US cities under the Trump administration. The killing was at least the fifth linked to immigration crackdowns in a handful of states since 2024.
Department of Homeland Security defends shooting
In a post on X, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, said that the ICE officers were conducting targeted operations when “rioters began blocking them and one of these violent rioters weaponised her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them—an act of domestic terrorism."
She further said that one of the ICE officers, fearing for his life and the safety of others, fired in self-defence. “He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers," McLaughlin said.
The woman suffered bullet injuries after being shot in the face multiple times by the ICE officer and later died.
Outrage over shooting
Several videos shared on social media showed an officer intercepting an SUV, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle. As the car does not stop and begins to move forward, another ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle pulls his gun and immediately fires at least two shots into the SUV at close range. The SUV then sped into two cars parked on a curb nearby before crashing to a stop.
The incident triggered widespread outrage with protesters and community members shouting at ICE agents and at the local police. Bystanders asked Minneapolis police to arrest the ICE agent who shot the woman in a car.
Mayor terms shooting reckless
Jacob Frey, the city’s mayor, described the incident as “reckless” and unnecessary. “I do have a message for our community for our city and I do have a message for ICE. To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety and you are doing exactly the opposite. People are being hurt,” Frey said.
“Families are being ripped apart. Long-term Minneapolis residents that have contributed so greatly to our city, to our culture, to our economy are being terrorised, and now, somebody is dead," he added.
In a social media post, the mayor said that immigration agents are “causing chaos in our city.”
“We are demanding ICE leave the city and state immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities,” Frey said.
