A U.S. immigration agent has fatally shot a driver in Minneapolis amid a surge in anti-immigrant crackdowns, local and federal authorities said. The incident is the latest violent incident in a nationwide crackdown on immigrants under Donald Trump.
After the shooting, protests erupted near the scene, where some protesters were confronted by heavily armed federal agents wearing gas masks, who used chemical munitions to disperse them.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE agent opened fire after what the official version said was a “violent protester” attempted to ram his vehicle into immigration officers. “The suspect was struck and has since died,” spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, adding that the injured officers are expected to make a full recovery. The exact details of the incident have not yet been independently confirmed.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey directly blamed the Trump administration for escalating tensions. “The presence of federal immigration agents is causing chaos in our city. We demand that ICE leave immediately. We stand firmly with our immigrant and refugee communities,” Frey wrote.
The Trump administration has sent federal immigration agents to several Democratic-led cities during its first year in office, sparking a backlash. In recent weeks, operations in Minneapolis have intensified after allegations of fraud against Somali immigrants, whom Trump has called "derogatory."
A dark SUV with a bullet hole in the windshield and blood on the seat was seen at the scene, crashed into a pole on a snow-covered road. Residents in the area reported scenes of panic and anger, as the incident has further heightened tensions over immigration policies in the US.
