> At a Glance
> – ICE officers fatally shot a driver in Minneapolis on Jan. 7 after protests blocked their operation.
> – Sen. Tina Smith says the victim was a U.S. citizen; DHS claims she tried to run agents over.
> – A witness says the woman was shot three to four times in the face while attempting to turn around.
> – Why it matters: The killing inflames tensions in a city already targeted by Trump’s immigration crackdown.
A deadly shooting by federal immigration agents in south Minneapolis has sparked outrage after a U.S. citizen was killed behind the wheel during a protest-fueled confrontation on Wednesday morning.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Residents near 33rd and Portland woke to shouting and traffic chaos shortly after 7 a.m., according to eyewitness Emily Heller. She told The Washington Post that ICE agents ordered a woman to leave the area, then opened fire when she tried to turn her SUV around.
> Emily Heller stated:
>
> > “She was trying to turn around, and the ICE agent was in front of her car … he reached across the hood and shot her in the face like three, four times.”
The vehicle rolled roughly 100 feet, struck a utility pole and other cars, and came to rest with the driver slumped inside.
Two Competing Narratives
Department of Homeland Security Version
DHS posted on X that “rioters” had blocked officers and labeled the driver a “violent rioter” who weaponized her vehicle in an attempt to kill agents.
> DHS statement:
>
> > “An ICE officer, fearing for his life … fired defensive shots. He used his training and saved his own life.”
Local Officials’ Response
- Sen. Tina Smith identified the deceased as a U.S. citizen and urged ICE to leave the city.
- Mayor Jacob Frey was blunt at an afternoon press conference:
> “Get the f— out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here.”
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Victim attempted to run officers over | DHS |
| Victim was a U.S. citizen | Sen. Tina Smith |
| Agent fired into driver’s-side window | Video reviewed by News Of Los Angeles |
Broader Context
The fatal encounter happened one day after DHS taunted the city with a “GOOD MORNING MINNEAPOLIS!” post announcing intensified raids. Minneapolis, home to the nation’s largest Somali-American community and Rep. Ilhan Omar, has been a repeated target of President Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric.
Key Takeaways
- A woman is dead after ICE agents fired multiple shots into her SUV during a protest.
- Sen. Smith says the victim was an American; DHS calls her a terrorist.
- Video shows an agent shooting at close range as the vehicle tries to pull away.
- City leaders demand ICE exit Minneapolis, citing public-safety chaos.
As state and federal investigations begin, the shooting amplifies fears of aggressive immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities nationwide.
