An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot a 37-year-old woman in south Minneapolis on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the intersection of East 34th Street and Portland Avenue. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated the incident occurred during an immigration-related operation when the woman allegedly attempted to ram her vehicle into ICE agents, prompting the agent to use defensive force. However, local officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara, disputed this narrative, asserting that video evidence shows the woman was not attempting to attack officers and that the incident was not self-defense. The shooting has sparked widespread protests, law enforcement clashes, and demands for federal agents to leave the city.
The DHS confirmed the shooting and described it as a vehicle ramming incident, with the agent firing defensive shots after the woman’s car reversed and moved toward agents.
Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the DHS narrative as false, calling it “bull***t” and demanding ICE leave Minneapolis, stating the agent’s actions were reckless and caused unnecessary death.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara expressed concern over the use of deadly force against an unarmed individual and emphasized that most law enforcement agencies train to minimize such risks.
Witnesses reported seeing the woman’s car blocked in the street, with no indication of aggressive movement toward agents, and described the scene as chaotic, with federal agents, local police, and protesters confronting each other.
The incident occurred amid a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation, with DHS deploying approximately 2,100 agents to the Twin Cities, including ICE and Homeland Security Investigations personnel, as part of the largest DHS operation ever in Minnesota.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are assisting in the investigation, while the FBI is also involved.
Protests erupted at the scene, with demonstrators chanting, throwing snowballs, and using whistles to alert residents; law enforcement responded with pepper spray and tear gas.
The shooting follows a broader escalation in federal immigration enforcement, including a controversial video by a right-wing influencer alleging fraud in Somali-run day care centers, which prompted a federal investigation and increased ICE activity in the city.
As of Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed. The victim’s identity and full circumstances remain under review.