Members of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stand at the scene after a driver of a vehicle was shot in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Evans
(Minneapolis, Minnesota) — A woman was shot and killed Wednesday during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis after authorities say she attempted to use her vehicle to run over law enforcement officers.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were conducting a targeted operation when their vehicle became stuck in the snow due to severe weather conditions. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said officers were outside their vehicle attempting to free it when the woman allegedly attacked.
“Our ICE officers were out in an enforcement action. They got stuck in the snow,” Noem said. “A woman attacked them and attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle.”
Noem said an officer “acted quickly and defensively” and fired his weapon to protect himself and others. “My understanding is that she was hit and is deceased,” she added, describing the alleged vehicle attack as “a domestic act of terrorism.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz posted on X following the incident, “”I’ve seen the video. Don’t believe this propaganda machine.”
President Trump has also commented on the incident, “I have just viewed the clip of the event which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a horrible thing to watch.” Trump said in an interview on Air Force One, “The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis.”
DHS later said in a statement posted on X that “violent rioters” began blocking ICE officers during the operation and that the woman “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them.” The agency said the officer fired “defensive shots” after fearing for his life and the safety of others. DHS said injured officers are expected to recover.
The incident triggered protests in the surrounding neighborhood, with demonstrators chanting anti-ICE slogans as police secured the area. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey forcefully condemned the federal presence, saying during a press conference, “And to ICE — get the f*** out of Minneapolis.”
The shooting comes amid a large-scale federal immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities, where DHS has confirmed roughly 2,000 officers are being deployed as part of ongoing enforcement actions tied to immigration violations and alleged fraud.
Federal officials say the situation remains under investigation and additional details will be released as they become available.
