Saturday morning in Minneapolis turned into a political firestorm after a man was shot and killed by a federal agent. Now, top Democrats across Minnesota are demanding that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) halt its operations and leave the state immediately.
The shooting happened around 9:05 a.m. during what the Department of Homeland Security described as a “targeted” enforcement operation. According to officials, a Border Patrol agent fired the fatal shots following a scuffle with the armed man. While details of the struggle remain scarce, the reaction from local and state leaders was instant and furious.
READ: Trump Accuses Minnesota Leaders Of ‘Inciting Insurrection’ After Saturday Shooting
Minnesota politicians wasted no time taking their outrage to social media. Representative Ilhan Omar is calling the incident an “execution.”
“I am absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled that federal agents murdered another member of our community. It is beyond shameful these federal agents are targeting our residents instead of protecting them,” said Omar.
Representative Angie Craig, who is currently running for the U.S. Senate, said she had viewed video footage of the incident. She called the killing “sickening” and argued that the agency is now “beyond out of control.” She also questioned why her Republican colleagues haven’t spoken up yet.
The anger reached the U.S. Senate as well. Senator Amy Klobuchar posted multiple times, demanding that the Trump administration remove ICE from Minnesota. She described a chaotic scene in the state, with schools closing, children hiding, and local police unable to do their jobs because of federal interference. “The world is watching,” she warned, calling on Republicans in Congress to break their silence.
The federal agents were in the Minneapolis area as part of a “surge” in operations.
This move came after reports surfaced regarding massive fraud in Minnesota’s welfare programs, with allegations that more than $9 billion had been spent fraudulently. Similar investigations into specific immigrant communities have been reported in other states, such as Ohio and Maine.
Despite this, state officials believe the cost is too high.
Governor Tim Walz said he spoke directly with the White House to demand an end to the operation. He called the officers “violent” and “untrained” and insisted they be pulled out of the state.
Walz also drew a hard line regarding the investigation into the shooting itself. He asserted that state investigators, not federal ones, must lead the case to ensure justice is served. He warned that federal agents should not obstruct the state’s ability to process the scene. RELATED: Walz Activates Minnesota National Guard After Federal Agent Kills Armed ICU Nurse Alex Pretti
By Saturday afternoon, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joined the chorus of voices during a press conference. Addressing President Trump directly, Frey said the only way to restore safety to the city is to remove the federal agents immediately. “End this operation,” Frey said, “and our city will come back.”
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