A woman has died after an US immigration enforcement officer fired “defensive shots” during a “targeted” operation in Minneapolis, a spokesperson has said.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said that the shooting occurred when “rioters” were “blocking ICE officers” from conducting their operation.
ICE is the federal US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency responsible for homeland security investigations and enforcement and removal operations against people the US decides are in the country illegally.
The DHS earlier said it had launched what it called the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out by the agency in Minnesota, with 2,000 federal agents and officers expected in the Minneapolis area for a crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.
Ms McLaughlin said: “Today, ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponised her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them-an act of domestic terrorism.
“An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.
“He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers.
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“The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. Thankfully, the ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries.”
A large group of protesters gathered at the scene of the shooting, where they expressed anger at officers.
Speaking after the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticised ICE and urged residents to rise above the actions of immigration enforcement agents.
He told the residents of his city that “we are better than a bunch of ice agents”, calling on them to meet “hate with love”.
“They want an excuse to come in and create the kind of force that creates more chaos and more despair,” he said.
He accused ICE agents of causing chaos and told them to “get out” of Minneapolis.
“Having them there was only causing more chaos, having them there only made a difficult situation more problematic, and yes, one they created themselves,” he said.
Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department Brian O’Hara said there was no indication that the woman who died was the target of “any law enforcement investigation or activity”.
He said she was a middle aged white woman, who had been blocking the street to prevent ICA agents from passing through.
“This woman was in her car, and it appears then, blocking the street because of the president’s of federal law enforcement,” he said.
“Which is obviously something that has been happening not just in Minneapolis but around the country.”
