An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis, adding to the tensions in a city already shaken by a recent fatal shooting involving ICE. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that the shooting occurred after the man, who was allegedly in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela, was pursued in a car chase.
The City of Minneapolis confirmed that the man sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. The ICE officer involved also received treatment for injuries. In light of the incident, city officials expressed their concern, urging the public to remain calm while voicing anger over ICE's operations.
The City of Minneapolis again demands that ICE leave the city and state immediately, city officials stated. The shooting incident escalated when the man exited his vehicle, leading to an altercation with the ICE officer, which reportedly involved two other individuals charging at the officer. In a statement, the DHS claimed the officer fired in self-defense, fearing for his safety.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey accused federal agents of exacerbating chaos within the city. Protests sprang at the shooting scene, with demonstrators rallying against ICE operations amid heightened scrutiny of federal enforcement actions in Minnesota. The situation drew increased attention following another violent incident in which 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot dead by an ICE agent, alleged to have been attempting to run over officers.
Amid ongoing investigations by the FBI, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called for an end to the ICE presence, stating his frustration with the state of affairs. The shooting and subsequent protests highlight rising tensions surrounding immigration policies and enforcement in the United States, particularly in cities like Minneapolis, where local communities are directly impacted by federal actions.
