(MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA) — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told ICE to
“get the f— out”
of the city on January 7, 2026, after an ICE officer fatally shot a 37-year-old U.S. citizen woman in south Minneapolis during a federal operation.
Frey rejected the Department of Homeland Security account that the shooting was self-defense, calling it *”bulls**t”* and *”garbage,”* and said,
“This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.”
At the same press conference, Frey demanded ICE leave immediately, saying,
“We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite. People are being hurt, families are being ripped apart.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also took aim at federal officials’ description of the encounter, calling it a “propaganda machine,” while saying he had activated the State Emergency Operations Center and prepared the Minnesota National Guard.
The fatal shooting happened that morning at East 34th Street and Portland Avenue, authorities said, in a confrontation that drew multiple agencies and sparked protests and clashes in the area.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the agent fired at least two shots, striking the woman in the head. She was pronounced dead at Hennepin Healthcare, O’Hara said, and there was “no indication she was a target of the investigation.”
DHS said the ICE officer fired defensively after the woman “weaponized her vehicle” to run over agents during an operation that was disrupted by rioters blocking vehicles.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin called the disruption “domestic terrorism,” a label that became a flashpoint as local officials and community leaders demanded an independent accounting of what happened.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the shooting as the officer “fearing for his life,” while blaming “sanctuary politicians” for a 1,300% rise in assaults on officers. Noem also condemned the act as something all officials should denounce.
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) identified the victim as a U.S. citizen and said “ICE should leave now for everyone’s safety.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison blamed President Trump’s deployment of thousands of agents for “spreading terror,” and said he wanted accountability if laws were broken.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called the victim a “legal observer,” and said “ICE must stop terrorizing our communities.”
CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein accused DHS of “lying,” and said the victim was a “young observer killed in the line of observing,” while demanding charges.
Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez called for arresting the ICE agent and urged “community patrols” to prevent “kidnapping of our neighbors.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty called for a local investigation for “full transparency,” while Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt stressed local agency involvement.
The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating, authorities said.
The shooting unfolded amid “Operation Metro Surge,” which DHS has described as the “largest ever” ICE operation, involving over 2,000 federal agents and targeting fraud and undocumented immigrants.
DHS said the operation has yielded over 1,000 arrests since December. DHS also tweeted “Good morning Minneapolis!” beforehand.
O’Hara had warned Tuesday of potential “tragedy” from the federal presence, as the city braced for the impact of the operation and the prospect of demonstrations.
Protests erupted after the shooting, with snowballs thrown at agents, chemical irritants used, and clashes, authorities said. Federal agents later left the scene.
U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino arrived to lead efforts, authorities said.
Frey, facing anger in the city after the killing, called for community peace. The shooting site is blocks from George Floyd’s 2020 killing, a landmark in Minneapolis that has continued to shape tensions over policing, accountability and the use of force.
Walz pleaded for the U.S. to “stand with Minneapolis,” as state leaders weighed next steps and federal officials continued to defend the operation and the actions of the officer involved.
Minneapolis leaders have demanded ICE’s immediate withdrawal following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman, a U.S. citizen, during a federal operation. Mayor Frey and Governor Walz rejected DHS’s self-defense claims, labeling them propaganda. The shooting, part of the massive ‘Operation Metro Surge,’ has ignited protests and calls for accountability, with the FBI and Minnesota BCA launching investigations amid high community tension and political fallout.
