Minnesota officials and federal government clash after immigration agent shoots woman

After a federal immigration agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Mayor Jacob Frey called the U.S. government’s account of what happened “bullshit,” and Gov. Tim Walz derided a federal “propaganda machine,” saying the shooting was both “totally predictable” and “totally avoidable.” Federal officials defended the shooting as necessary and lawful and said they would continue a surge of immigration enforcement work in the Minneapolis area.

“This is the direct consequence of constant attacks and demonization of our officers by sanctuary politicians who fuel and encourage rampant assaults on our law enforcement,” said Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security. The federal government had announced the deployment of around 2,000 agents to the Minneapolis area, calling it its “largest operation to date” to crack down on fraud and to root out illegal immigrants.

State and local leaders had warned the surge could create chaos, and as agents arrived officials in Minnesota and the federal government traded blame after the shooting. Mr. Walz and Mr. Frey warned demonstrators to stay peaceful and cautioned that the federal government might be looking for a pretext to deploy the military: “Do not take the bait,” Mr.

Walz said.

Key Topics

Politics, Ice, Minneapolis, Tim Walz, Jacob Frey, Dhs