Credited from: NPR
A federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot a Venezuelan man in the leg on Wednesday evening during a targeted operation in north Minneapolis. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the incident occurred after the man attempted to flee during a traffic stop, leading to a struggle that resulted in the shooting. The man was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover from non-life-threatening injuries, as reported by multiple sources including Reuters and BBC.
The shooting transpired exactly one week after another ICE shooting in Minneapolis that resulted in the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good. Protests have been ongoing since that incident, and local officials have repeatedly voiced their demands for ICE to withdraw from the city. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated, "This is not sustainable," criticizing the chaotic environment caused by federal agents in the area, according to Le Monde and India Times.
The latest incident unfolded when the alleged "illegal alien" was pursued by ICE officers after a car chase ended with him abandoning his vehicle. DHS indicated that during the arrest attempt, the man resisted and assaulted the ICE officer, who subsequently fired in self-defense as additional individuals joined the confrontation, armed with a snow shovel and broom handle. This account is noted in statements from India Times and NPR.
Amid rising tensions, Governor Tim Walz condemned the pervasive presence of ICE agents in Minnesota, labeling their operations as creating "chaos" and "trauma" within communities, according to NPR and Le Monde. Local protests have intensified, with demonstrators expressing concern over safety and the disruptive impact of federal enforcement in their neighborhoods.