ICE agent shoots and kills woman in vehicle during operations in Minneapolis: DHS
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service An officer shot and killed a woman in a vehicle during operations in Minneapolis on Wednesday, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The victim was a U.S. citizen who “was an observer” and was “keeping an eye on our immigrant neighbors,” Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez told ABC News.
The woman was allegedly “trying to run over our law enforcement officers” when an ICE officer fatally shot her, according to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
Police tape is seen around a vehicle with a bullet hole in the windshield after a driver was shot in Minneapolis, January 7, 2026.
Tim Evans/Reuters
McLaughlin said the ICE officer fired “defensive shots,” referring to the woman as part of a group of “rioters.” He did not identify the murdered woman or the ICE officer involved in the shooting.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the incident was an “act of domestic terrorism.”
“What happened was our ICE officers were in police action and they got stuck in the snow because of the adverse weather in Minneapolis,” he said during a news conference in Texas. “They were trying to push their vehicle, and a woman attacked them and those around them and tried to run them over and ram them with her vehicle.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement that he is aware of the shooting involving an ICE agent and demanded that ICE leave the city “immediately.”
“The presence of federal immigration agents is causing chaos in our city,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement on social media about the shooting. “We demand that ICE leave the city immediately. We stand firm with our immigrant and refugee communities.”
Law enforcement officers are shown at the scene of an ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, Jan. 7, 2026.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said his office is working to “gather information regarding an ICE-related shooting this morning.”
“We will share information as we know more. In the meantime, I ask people to stay calm,” he posted on X.
The city of Minneapolis said it is “aware of a shooting involving a federal agent” near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue and urged people to avoid the area.
“We are working to confirm additional information, but what we know is that the presence of federal immigration agents is causing chaos in our city and making our community less safe,” the city said in a statement.
A large police presence could be seen at the scene. Protesters have also gathered, and some have been seen being pepper-sprayed by law enforcement.
A federal agent uses pepper spray on protesters blocking a street after a driver of a vehicle was shot in Minneapolis, January 7, 2026.
Tim Evans/Reuters
Law enforcement officers are shown at the scene of an ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, Jan. 7, 2026.
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The Twin Cities are seeing a massive deployment of ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents to conduct fraud and immigration enforcement investigations, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans.
Up to 2,000 ICE and HSI Agents Could Head to Minneapolis area, but a source warned that the number of agents could change.
Sources have told ABC News that up to 600 HSI agents are being deployed and that 1,400 ICE agents could be deployed as part of the larger law enforcement operation.
Law enforcement officers are shown at the scene of an ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, Jan. 7, 2026.
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In recent weeks, the Trump administration has focused on allegations of fraud at Somali-run daycares.
Noem was on the ground in Minneapolis on Tuesday conducting immigration checks.
ABC News’ Laura Romero contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
