An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car on a residential street in Minneapolis.
The woman was shot on Wednesday (local time) during a traffic stop in a residential neighbourhood. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was quick to reject the Trump administration’s claim the ICE agent was acting in self-defence, saying it was a “garbage narrative”.
“They’re already trying to spin this as an action of self-defence,” Frey said at a press conference.
“Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly — that is bullshit.”
The shooting is the latest and most drastic incident in President Donald Trump’s ICE crackdown on immigration.
Videos online show the woman’s vehicle surrounded by ICE agents. One officer approaches the car and tries to open the door. The car moves forward and then a different officer, standing in front of the vehicle, fires at least two shots at the car at close range. The vehicle then crashed on the side of the road.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said investigations indicated the woman’s vehicle was blocking traffic when a federal officer approached.
O’Hara said there was no indication that the woman was trying to harm anyone and had not been a target of immigration operations.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the woman was “very disorderly, obstructing and resisting” and that she “violently, wilfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self-defence”.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the ICE officer had shot the woman in self defence, “to protect himself and the people around him”.
Mayor Jacob Frey was quick to discredit Noem and Trump’s comments, saying the shooting was “reckless”.
He told ICE to “get the f— out of Minneapolis”.
“They are not here to cause safety in this city. What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust,” Frey said.
“They’re ripping families apart. They’re sowing chaos on our streets and in this case quite literally killing people.”
“ICE – Get the f*** out of Minneapolis.” There was a fatal shooting involving federal law enforcement that occurred earlier today in the area of 34th Street and Portland Avenue. We are demanding accountability, justice and the need to meet this moment with peace and unity. pic.twitter.com/R6Pudss2ZB
— City of Minneapolis (@CityMinneapolis) January 7, 2026
The identity of the shot woman has not yet been publicly disclosed, however US Senator Tina Smith said on X that she was a US citizen.
A US citizen has apparently been shot by ICE agents in Minneapolis. I’m gathering information, but the situation on the ground is volatile.
— Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) January 7, 2026
ICE should leave now for everyone’s safety.
Please be safe Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz discredited Trump’s comments on the shooting, saying he would ensure there is a full investigation.
“I’ve seen the video. Don’t believe this propaganda machine. The state will ensure there is a full, fair, and expeditious investigation to ensure accountability and justice,” he said on X.
“We’ve been warning for weeks that the Trump Administration’s dangerous, sensationalized operations are a threat to public safety.”
We’ve been warning for weeks that the Trump Administration’s dangerous, sensationalized operations are a threat to public safety. pic.twitter.com/edueGHqBJy
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) January 7, 2026
The shooting marks an escalation in Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Throughout his second term, Trump has deployed ICE into Democrat-led major cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago.
Various media have reported there have been at least five deaths directly linked to violent incidents involving ICE agents since 2024. No officers have been charged in the deaths.