Federal agents in Minneapolis fatally shot a man on Saturday, marking the second deadly incident involving U.S. immigration officers in the city this month amid a surge in enforcement operations.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Border Patrol agents opened fire in self-defense after the man approached them carrying a handgun and two magazines.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara identified the victim as a 37-year-old local resident, believed to be a U.S. citizen and a lawful gun owner with no criminal record. The name of the deceased has not been released.
Video circulating on social media shows a man struggling with individuals in tactical vests on a snow-covered street before shots are fired. Subsequent footage shows federal agents deploying tear gas against a growing crowd of bystanders.
Local officials call for end to operations
Mayor Jacob Frey demanded an immediate halt to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement activities in Minnesota. “How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” he said at a press conference.
The governor of Minnesota and two U.S. senators also called for the withdrawal of federal agents. The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident.
The shooting occurred one day after over 10,000 residents protested against the presence of 3,000 federal agents deployed to the state. Anger among locals has grown following previous incidents, including the killing of U.S. citizen Renee Good, detentions from private homes, and the apprehension of schoolchildren, including a five-year-old.
Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis on Thursday to support immigration officers and urged local leaders and activists to reduce tensions, emphasizing the federal mission to detain immigration violators.
