Police tape surrounds a vehicle after its driver was shot by a U.S. immigration agent, according to local and federal officials, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Evans
(New York, New York) – A veteran ICE officer who served his country in combat and spent nearly two decades in federal law enforcement is now facing public vilification following a fatal enforcement encounter in Minneapolis. Court records identify the agent as Jonathan Ross, an Iraq War veteran and longtime officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Ross deployed to Iraq with the Indiana National Guard and later worked cartel and smuggling cases along the southern border before joining ICE fugitive operations in Minnesota. Federal officials say he acted according to his training when he fired his weapon, believing he or fellow agents were in imminent danger as a vehicle attempted to flee. Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials have publicly defended the officer as a seasoned professional who has repeatedly put himself in harm’s way to protect the public.
Despite that record, Ross has become the focus of intense protests and online attacks from left-wing activists demanding criminal charges, prompting federal officials to withhold his name over safety concerns for him and his family. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the shooting, but supporters argue the backlash reflects a broader pattern of hostility toward law enforcement- particularly ICE officers- who are increasingly portrayed as villains despite years of service and sacrifice.
