ICE officers reportedly shot and killed a driver in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 7 — just one day after federal authorities launched large-scale immigration raids in the city.
A Washington Post reporter shared an account from a witness who said she woke up to a commotion near 33rd Street and Portland Avenue and saw a vehicle blocking traffic, which appeared to be connected to a protest against federal enforcement activity.
The witness, Emily Heller, said ICE agents were telling the driver — described as a woman — to “get out of here.” Heller alleged an officer moved in front of the car and then fired multiple times at close range. According to the account, the driver then accelerated about 100 feet before hitting a utility pole and other vehicles, and was seen slumped over in the car.
The Department of Homeland Security provided a different version of events in a post on X, saying ICE officers were conducting “targeted operations” when “rioters” began blocking them. DHS alleged that one person “weaponized her vehicle,” attempting to run over officers “in an attempt to kill them,” which the agency called “an act of domestic terrorism.”
DHS said an officer, “fearing for his life” and the lives of others, fired “defensive shots,” and that the “alleged perpetrator” was hit and died. The agency added that injured officers are expected to recover.
In the same statement, DHS blamed what it called “constant attacks and demonization” of officers by “sanctuary politicians,” and claimed a “1,300% increase in assaults” and an “8,000% increase in death threats,” calling the situation “evolving.”
Video that purportedly captures the incident shows an officer trying to open the driver’s side door of a dark SUV. As the vehicle begins to move forward and turn away, another officer near the front of the SUV fires multiple shots at close range into the open driver’s side window.
City officials also weighed in. Minneapolis posted on X that it was “aware of a shooting involving a federal agent” near 34th Street and Portland and said it was working to confirm details. The city added that the presence of federal immigration enforcement agents was “causing chaos” and “making our community less safe.”
Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith said she was gathering information and described the victim as a “U.S. citizen,” adding that conditions were “volatile” and calling on ICE to leave “for everyone’s safety.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey delivered a blunt message during a press conference, telling ICE, “Get the f— out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here.”
The shooting came a day after DHS announced the start of operations in Minneapolis with a mocking post on X: “GOOD MORNING MINNEAPOLIS!”
The city has drawn increased national attention amid heightened rhetoric from President Donald Trump and his administration about Somali immigrants. Minneapolis–St. Paul is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., and the region elected Rep. Ilhan Omar — the first Somali-American congresswoman in U.S. history and a frequent Trump target — in 2019.
During a televised Cabinet meeting on Dec. 2, Trump attacked Omar and Somali immigrants, calling Omar “garbage” and adding, “Her friends are garbage.” He also claimed Somali immigrants “aren’t people that work,” and said, “we don’t want them in our country,” adding that they should “go back to where they came from.”
