Chaos broke out on the streets of Minneapolis on Wednesday after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed a woman during an operation. The woman was inside her vehicle at the time, according to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Shooting happened in a residential area. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said the officer opened fire after the 37-year-old woman tried to strike officers at the scene, the Associated Press reported.

Incident Marks Escalation in Crackdown

The killing marks a sharp escalation in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Authorities have increased operations in major US cities.

According to AP, this is at least the fifth death linked to immigration enforcement actions across several states since 2024.

Trump Defends ICE Officer

US President Donald Trump defended the ICE agent involved in the shooting on Thursday. He said the officer acted in self-defense. Reacting to the video footage, Trump said it was a “horrible thing to watch.” He also claimed the woman had deliberately targeted the officer.

“The woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Shooting Site Near Historic Area

The woman was killed in a modest neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis. The area sits close to some of the city’s oldest immigrant-run markets and the site is also about a mile from where George Floyd died in police custody in 2020. That killing reshaped national debates on policing and racial justice, AP reported.

Protests Erupt After Shooting

News of the shooting quickly drew a large group of protesters to the scene. Demonstrators confronted both local and federal officers.

Among those present was Gregory Bovino, a senior US Customs and Border Patrol official. He has played a leading role in immigration crackdowns in cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago.

The scene resembled earlier immigration operations. Bystanders shouted insults and blew whistles, a tactic often used during raids.

“Shame! Shame! Shame!” and “ICE out of Minnesota!” protesters shouted from behind police tape.

Mayor Condemns Federal Operation

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey strongly criticised the federal presence in the city. He said immigration agents were disrupting public order.

“Immigration agents were ‘causing chaos in our city,’” Frey said.

“We are demanding ICE leave the city and state immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities," he added in a post on social media.

Fear Grips Immigrant Communities

Tension has remained high in Minneapolis and nearby St Paul since DHS announced a large enforcement operation on Tuesday. Officials said around 2,000 agents and officers could take part.

Authorities linked the crackdown partly to alleged fraud involving Somali residents. Community leaders say fear has spread among immigrant families.

“We’ve been trying to live life as fully as possible in light of the fear and anxiety that we feel,” said the Rev. Hierald Osorto, pastor at St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church, which serves a largely Latino community.

Investigation Continues

Officials have launched an investigation into the shooting. Authorities have not yet released further details. The case remains under review.