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A federal immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday, igniting a fierce dispute between Trump administration officials and Minnesota state and local leaders over the circumstances of the shooting.
Federal authorities characterized the incident as self-defense, with Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stating the woman had "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them." Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went further, describing the shooting as "an act of domestic terrorism" during a news conference in Brownsville, Texas.
Minnesota officials sharply contested that account. Mayor Jacob Frey called the federal description "bullshit" after viewing video footage of the incident, characterizing it instead as "an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying, getting killed." Governor Tim Walz posted on social media urging people not to believe "this propaganda machine."
Videos verified by The New York Times show a maroon Honda Pilot stopped on Portland Avenue, partially blocking one lane of the snowy residential street. When a truck with flashing lights approached and federal agents emerged, two moved toward the driver's side door while telling the woman to exit. As the driver began to reverse and then shift into drive, a third agent standing near the driver's side headlight pulled out a gun and fired, continuing to shoot as the vehicle moved past him. The Honda then collided with two parked vehicles and a light post.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said there was "nothing to indicate that this woman was the target of any law enforcement investigation or activity." The woman appeared to have been using her vehicle to block a street where immigration enforcement agents were operating, he added. Representative Ilhan Omar, whose congressional district includes the shooting scene, described the person as a "legal observer."
President Trump weighed in on social media, stating he believed the agents had shot the driver "in self defense." Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser under Trump's administration, described the incident simply as "domestic terrorism."
At an afternoon news conference, Walz said the shooting was "totally predictable" and "totally avoidable." He directly addressed Trump and Noem, telling them they had "done enough" and the state did not need "any further help from the federal government." The governor said federal officials were not coordinating with local law enforcement.
The FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have taken control of the investigation. Bob Jacobson, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, declined to provide details, saying the investigation was in its early stages.
About a thousand people gathered at the scene, less than a mile from where George Floyd was killed by police in 2020. Demonstrators chanted for immigration agents to leave and threw snowballs at police officers. Hundreds followed Minneapolis police as they left the scene, pelting them with snowballs and chanting "ICE out now!"
Walz activated the state's Emergency Operations Center and issued a "warning order" to prepare the Minnesota National Guard. He said soldiers were in training and prepared to deploy if necessary, but urged protesters to demonstrate peacefully. "They want a show," he said. "We can't give it to them."
The governor referenced lessons learned from the violent protests that followed Floyd's killing in 2020, warning residents not to "take the bait" or allow the federal government to "deploy federal troops into here." He was criticized at the time for not mobilizing the National Guard more quickly.
Frey demanded that ICE leave "out of Minneapolis" immediately, adding that the presence of agents was sowing chaos in the city. "People are being hurt," he said. "Families are being ripped apart." Elliott Payne, president of the Minneapolis City Council, called federal agents "an escalating factor" during an interview from the scene.
About 2,000 federal agents were expected to participate in the immigration enforcement operation, which could last for weeks, according to the Trump administration. Federal officials have framed the crackdown as a response to illegal immigration and widespread fraud in state social service systems. Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024, has been singled out for criticism by the Trump administration for not doing more to prevent large-scale fraud in Minnesota social service programs.
The shooting marks at least the tenth involving federal agents enforcing immigration laws that has been reported by news outlets since Trump returned to office. Previous incidents have occurred in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas, among other locations.
Several national Republicans shared statements of support for ICE following the shooting. Representative Barry Loudermilk of Georgia said "attacks on our law enforcement cannot be tolerated," while Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee wrote that "if you put an ICE agent in mortal danger, self-defense is JUSTIFIED."
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said there were many unknowns surrounding the shooting but criticized Trump's decision to send armed ICE agents to the state as "spreading terror throughout our communities." He pledged to "do all I can to ensure they are held accountable" if anyone broke the law.
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