Today, as federal agents began a multimillion-dollar, multi-state immigration enforcement operation here in Minneapolis. Tragically, when they began shooting a woman was killed. The victim, originally described as a legal observer, was shot multiple times in the face. This shooting has led to international outrage and protests against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids occurring in the city.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Democrats, have expressed their outrage about the incident. Omar has a special connection to the Somali community as a former refugee from Somalia. He characterized the victim as a legal observer at the scene of the ICE raid. The shooting placed a spotlight on heightened ICE presence in Minneapolis. This increased presence is said to be related to ongoing fraud investigations into Somali residents.
In the aftermath of the shooting, eyewitness Emily Heller described the confusing, disorienting scene outside the theater. Local activists rushed to the scene in protest, trying to stop the ICE agents from conducting these arrests. Heller highlighted how quickly tensions escalated, leading law enforcement to use pepper spray to disperse protesters.
According to news reports, the perpetrator shot the victim through the windshield of her car. This last detail emphasizes the aggressiveness of the encounter. A bystander claimed, “They shot her through the windshield. They shot her in the face,” emphasizing the brutality of the incident.
The shooting occurred during a protest against the ICE operation. This operation had already created a firestorm of worry and opposition from local leaders and community members. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara had warned of possible civil disorder resulting from ICE’s activities in the city. “I’ve been concerned for weeks that because the issue is so emotional…the greatest risk to me is that there would be unrest or that there would be a tragedy,” O’Hara had stated.
Mayor Jacob Frey condemned ICE’s presence in Minneapolis, stating, “To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here.” Frey pointedly admonished the agency for creating fear and chaos rather than safety. He underscored the toll this takes on families and longtime Baltimoreans in the city. He further asserted, “That’s on you. It’s on you to leave. It’s on you to make sure that further damage, further loss of life and injury, is not done.”
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas responded immediately to the incident. They portrayed the victim as a “domestic terrorist,” accusing her of “weaponizing her vehicle” in an attempt to mow down police officers. This description has drawn significant criticism by community leaders who contend it inaccurately depicts what happened that night.
We’ll have more here as those details continue to come in. Shocking video footage shared on social media shows two ice cream trucks colliding head-on at the crash scene. The airbag of the other vehicle had deployed and it seemed as if blood covered the airbag, emphasizing the intensity of the clash.
Protests against ICE are rapidly growing across the country. In Minneapolis, this movement resonates on an even more profound level as Minnesotans of all backgrounds grapple with fear and anger. Many of these residents believe that ICE’s operations are ripping apart their families and instilling a climate of fear in immigrant communities.