The fatal shooting Wednesday of a woman by an immigration officer in Minneapolis marks at least the fifth death linked to the aggressive U.S. immigration crackdown initiated by the Trump administration last year.
The Department of Homeland Security stated the officer acted in self-defense as the woman allegedly attempted to run down officers with her vehicle. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the incident, asserting that video evidence indicates the officers acted recklessly. This shooting occurred amidst a significant increase in immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, where the federal agency plans to deploy approximately 2,000 agents and officers.
Past incidents include the shooting of another individual by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in suburban Chicago last September. Two people also died when they were hit by vehicles while fleeing immigration enforcement actions. Additionally, last July, a California farmworker died after falling from a greenhouse during an ICE raid.
No charges have been brought against any officers or agents for these deaths, raising concerns about accountability.
Other Fatal Encounters
ICE agents fatally shot Silverio Villegas González during a traffic stop in Chicago on September 12. According to relatives, the 38-year-old Mexican line cook was dropping his child off at daycare that morning. The Department of Homeland Security maintains that the agent feared for their life after Villegas González allegedly attempted to escape and dragged an officer with his vehicle. However, body camera footage appeared to contradict the claim of serious injuries to the officer involved.
Another shooting occurred in Chicago last fall, where Marimar Martinez was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent but survived. She was subsequently charged with a felony, which was later dismissed after video evidence suggested the agent had maneuvered their vehicle toward her truck.
Deaths During Enforcement Operations
During a raid on July 10 at Glass House Farms in California, Jaime Alanis fell from a greenhouse roof and succumbed to his injuries two days later. His family stated he had worked at the farm for ten years, sending money home to support them. Officials claimed he was not in custody or being pursued by immigration authorities at the time of his fall.
A similar incident occurred on August 14 when Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez was struck and killed by an SUV while attempting to flee from ICE officers outside a Home Depot in Southern California. The 52-year-old Guatemalan national was not being pursued when he ran onto the freeway and was hit by a fast-moving vehicle.
In another tragic incident, Josué Castro Rivera, a 24-year-old gardener from Honduras, was struck and killed by a pickup truck while attempting to flee from ICE during a traffic stop in Norfolk, Virginia. According to authorities, his vehicle had been stopped as part of a targeted intelligence-based operation.
Overall, as aggressive immigration enforcement measures continue to unfold, the potential for further tragic outcomes remains a pressing concern.
