State, local officials warn of escalation after ICE agent kills woman
A United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, according to government officials.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has deployed more than 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to Minneapolis as part of what it calls “Operation Metro Surge.”
State and local officials said the shooting is under investigation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as “domestic terrorism,” saying that the woman in the car was ramming ICE vehicles and that the agent involved acted in self-defense.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey disputed Noem’s characterization of the event as self-defense from an attack as a “garbage narrative.”
“I have a message for ICE,” Frey said in a press conference. “To ICE, get the f— out of Minneapolis. 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. ”
Officials expressed concern about the potential for further escalation between ICE agents and protesters following the shooting. Gov. Tim Walz said he has issued a warning order to the Minnesota National Guard, stopping short of mobilizing troops.
“In addition to this tragedy, which unfortunately we did predict, we were seriously concerned about further escalation from the scene,” Minneapolis Police Cheif Brian O’Hara said during a press conference, “and I want to thank the elected officials that came themselves to help us prevent that from happening, as well as the individuals on that scene that remained peaceful and that abided by law enforcement instructions so that we could preserve that scene and ensure that a full and transparent investigation can take place.”
Walz appeared alongside Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and Col. Simon Schaefer of the Minnesota National Guard, saying any deployment of state patrol officers or Guard members would be aimed at protecting Minnesotans.
“We have been warning for weeks that the Trump administration’s dangerous, sensationalized operations are a threat to our public safety, that someone was going to get hurt just yesterday, I said exactly that,” Walz said. “What we’re seeing is the consequences of governance designed to generate fear, headlines and conflict. ”
Video of the shooting has circulated online and has been aired by major news networks.
Multiple sources have confirmed that the woman in the vehicle died, but authorities have not released her name or other identifying information.
Walz encouraged Minnesotans to exercise their First Amendment rights while avoiding further escalation. He urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed.
“And so to Minnesotans, don’t take the bait,” Walz said. “Do not allow them to deploy federal troops into here. Do not allow them to invoke the Insurrection Act. Do not allow them to declare martial law. Do not allow them to lie about the security and the decency of this state. And let’s let this investigation play itself out. Let’s make sure we protect our neighbors.”
Josh Hinke January 7, 2026
