An ICE agent was involved in a recent shooting incident, marking the second shooting within two weeks after the tragic death of Renee Good, sparking turmoil in Minneapolis with protesters taking to the streets.
Last night, Minnesota’s largest city was engulfed in unrest when a federal agency officer shot a man in the leg, escalating tensions in an already volatile area reeling from the killing of American citizen Renee Good by officer Jonathon Ross on January 7.
City officials have urged for peace and reiterated a demand for the organization to vacate the city and state immediately as images depict clashes erupting on the streets.
In a statement laden with political undertones referencing President Joe Biden, the Department of Homeland Security disclosed that the victim was a Venezuelan migrant who allegedly attempted to assault an ICE officer.
According to a department spokesperson, the altercation unfolded around 6:50 pm CT (12:50 am GMT) as ICE officers were conducting a targeted traffic stop of an individual from Venezuela who entered the country under the Biden administration. The department claimed the individual tried to escape, crashed their vehicle, and fled on foot.
The spokesperson detailed that the migrant resisted and attacked the officer when confronted, with two other individuals also assaulting the officer with objects. In response, the officer fired shots in self-defense as the initial target continued to attack with a weapon.
Both the officer and the individual who was shot were hospitalized. The City of Minneapolis confirmed that the injured man received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Despite calls for ICE to depart immediately, the DHS defended the agency, attributing the resistance to the public and criticizing local leaders for their stance against federal law enforcement.
The DHS emphasized the challenges faced by law enforcement officers and highlighted a significant increase in assaults against them, underscoring the risks they undertake while carrying out their duties.
Minnesota is currently hosting a considerable number of ICE agents, with approximately 3,000 agents deployed to the state following the recent events. The increased presence has been met with disapproval, with Mayor Jacob Frey accusing ICE of causing disorder and Governor Tim Walz denouncing it as an “occupation.”