By Zoila Palma: A woman was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis today during an encounter that unfolded amid an expanded federal immigration enforcement operation in the city, authorities said.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the shooting occurred on a residential street in south Minneapolis after the woman allegedly attempted to “run over” an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent with her vehicle, Yahoo reports.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as “an act of domestic terrorism,” a characterization echoed by DHS officials, who said the officer fired in self-defense.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara later confirmed the woman sustained a fatal head wound and was pronounced dead at a hospital. The shooting took place near 34th Street and Portland Avenue, an area where protests against federal immigration enforcement had been reported.
However, videos circulating online and witness accounts have raised questions about the official federal narrative.
Footage appears to show ICE officers surrounding the vehicle as the driver attempted to leave the area.
A witness told Minneapolis Public Radio that the car had been blocking traffic and may have been part of a protest, and that officers were heard telling the driver to “get out of here.” The witness alleged that an agent stood in front of the vehicle before firing multiple shots through the windshield.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sharply criticized the federal response, saying the presence of ICE agents had created chaos in the city.
In a press conference, Frey called the shooting a reckless use of power and rejected the DHS account, saying he had viewed the videos himself. “We’re demanding ICE leave the city immediately,” Frey said, adding that the city would push for a full and independent investigation. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar also said they were seeking more information.
The shooting came one day after DHS announced a major escalation of immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities, describing it as the largest operation of its kind in Minnesota.
A person briefed on the plan said as many as 2,000 federal officers could be deployed to the area, sparking protests and renewed criticism from state and local leaders.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration tactics, particularly in communities with large immigrant populations, and follows previous cases in which initial DHS accounts of shootings during enforcement operations were later challenged or revised.
The post International News: Woman killed by ICE agent in Minneapolis as immigration crackdown sparks outrage and scrutiny appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: A woman was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis today during an encounter that unfolded amid an expanded federal immigration enforcement operation in the city, authorities said. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the shooting occurred on a residential street in south Minneapolis after the woman allegedly
The post International News: Woman killed by ICE agent in Minneapolis as immigration crackdown sparks outrage and scrutiny appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
