An officer from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shot and killed a driver in Minneapolis during a traffic stop on Wednesday, a confrontation that has ignited widespread protests and sharp political reactions. The incident occurred in a residential area just south of downtown Minneapolis, not far from significant immigrant markets and roughly one mile from the site where George Floyd was killed by police in 2020.
Federal authorities assert that the shooting was an act of self-defense, claiming the driver attempted to run over officers. According to Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the woman “attempted to run them over” and posed a threat, prompting the officer to act in defense of himself and others. However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned this narrative, calling it “reckless” and “garbage,” while criticizing the deployment of over 2,000 federal officers to the Twin Cities as disruptive and harmful to community trust.
Eyewitness accounts and videos shared on social media depict a chaotic scene. The officer approached the stopped SUV, demanding the driver open the door. As the vehicle moved forward, another officer fired at least two shots at close range. It remains unclear whether the SUV made contact with the officer before he discharged his weapon. The vehicle subsequently collided with two parked cars and came to a halt. Witnesses expressed shock and anger, with many shouting obscenities and demanding accountability from authorities.
Protests erupted immediately following the shooting, with hundreds gathering at the scene to voice their outrage. Demonstrators chanted slogans like “ICE out of Minnesota!” and expressed their frustrations toward local and federal law enforcement officials, including Gregory Bovino, a senior U.S. Customs and Border Patrol official. Videos from the protests echoed sentiments seen during previous enforcement actions in other cities, with bystanders using whistles and heckling officers.
The shooting has heightened tensions in the Twin Cities, especially following the recent announcement by the Department of Homeland Security regarding a new immigration enforcement operation linked to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. On Tuesday, Noem confirmed the deployment of more than 2,000 officers, stating they had already made “hundreds and hundreds” of arrests.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the event “predictable” and “avoidable,” noting that a family member of the driver witnessed the shooting. He expressed outrage and emphasized the importance of peaceful protests. “We can’t give them what they want,” he said during a news conference, urging demonstrators to exercise their rights without resorting to violence.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara provided limited details about the incident, stating that the driver was shot in the head while blocking the roadway. He did not indicate that the driver posed a threat to anyone prior to the shooting. The woman, aged 37, has not yet been publicly identified.
Calls for accountability have emerged on social media, with activists demanding that the officer involved be prosecuted. A spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office mentioned that decisions regarding charges would follow an investigation into the incident. “We have jurisdiction to bring charges, as do the feds. It’s a little bit of a complicated interplay, but the bottom line is yes, we have jurisdiction to bring criminal charges,” said Daniel Borgertpoepping.
In response to the ongoing concerns regarding immigration enforcement, migrant rights advocates and community activists in the Twin Cities have been organizing for nearly a year, preparing for potential enforcement surges. Their efforts include establishing online networks, monitoring for federal vehicles, and creating alert systems to inform neighborhoods of enforcement actions.
As the situation unfolds, both local and federal authorities remain under scrutiny regarding their approach to immigration enforcement and community safety. The events in Minneapolis serve as a stark reminder of the complexities and tensions surrounding immigration policy in the United States.
