During a large-scale federal immigration operation in southern Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, a woman was killed after she was shot by an ICE agent. The operation was part of a national action involving about 2,000 federal agents, according to the authorities.
What does the government say?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states that the woman tried to drive into officers with her burgundy SUV. According to that reading, she used her vehicle as a weapon, which was labeled as domestic terrorism and the shooting took place in self-defense.
What do images and witnesses show?
Several videos of the incident are circulating on social media, filmed by bystanders. It shows that officers are standing around the vehicle and that the car is slowly trying to maneuver. According to witnesses, the woman seemed to want to get out of the situation, not to hit anyone. After the shot, a bullet hole in the windshield is visible and the SUV comes to a stop against a pole.
Not a target of the action
According to local administrators and family, the woman was not the target of the immigration operation. There is talk of a bystander or legal observer who happened to be nearby. That makes the matter extra sensitive, especially since federal agencies and local authorities fiercely contradict each other in public.
Political and social unrest
The mayor of Minneapolis has openly questioned the federal story and calls ICE's deployment in the city chaotic and dangerous. In the days after the incident, commemorations and protests took place, calling for transparency and independent investigation.