When a federal agent shot and killed a woman during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday, the Guardian was nearby, shadowing observers who have trained for months to monitor and respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the state.
ICE vehicles, unmarked, lined the street, and yellow police tape cordoned off the area in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Dozens of protesters and community members were seen on the snowy street, shouting at ICE agents and at the local police. More agents arrived amid the chaos.
People yelled at Minneapolis police to arrest the ICE agent who shot the woman in a car.
“What were you taught by your parents?” one woman yelled at the agents.
A man on a bullhorn led some bystanders in a chant of “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here.” People repeatedly yelled for ICE to leave, to go home and to get out of Minneapolis – a request that was echoed by Jacob Frey, the city’s mayor, in a Wednesday afternoon press conference.
“I do have a message for our community for our city and I do have a message for ICE. To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety and you are doing exactly the opposite. People are being hurt,” Frey said.
The mayor added: “Families are being ripped apart. Long-term Minneapolis residents that have contributed so greatly to our city, to our culture, to our economy are being terrorized, and now, somebody is dead.”
Wednesday marked the second day of an expected 30-day surge, which ICE has called its largest operation to date.
Trained observers went to the houses that looked out on to the streets where the shooting took place, asking residents if they had any video they could share. One woman moved through the crowd quickly, telling people more were needed at a nearby school, where ICE had been seen.
City council members, Frey and Brian O’Hara, the Minneapolis chief of police, all came to the scene. Eventually, Minneapolis police took over, and ICE agents left. As they did, bystanders yelled and threw snowballs at their vehicles. The agents sprayed irritants and shot pellets at those who followed the vehicles.
Once agents left the area, volunteer medics helped those who were hit with spray to clear their eyes. Observers then heard more whistles blowing nearby – a sign ICE had moved to another part of south Minneapolis. Dozens took off toward the direction of the whistles.
“This is just sad,” said one man watching the scene.
The victim’s identity has not been disclosed publicly, but according to O’Hara she was a 37-year-old white woman.
The investigation into the shooting is now being led jointly by the FBI, as well as the Minnesota bureau of criminal apprehension. The latter will investigate whether any state laws were violated.
