Federal Officer Shoots Man Amid Minneapolis Protests Following Immigration Crackdown

Thu Jan 15 2026 11:32:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Tensions escalate in Minneapolis as a federal officer shoots a man during a confrontation with a group protesting immigration enforcement, marking another violent incident in the ongoing unrest over federal operations in the city.

A federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle during a protest against immigration enforcement. Following a fatal incident involving immigration agents, tensions have peaked as protests and confrontations escalate. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the federal presence in the city as unsustainable, with many residents feeling unsafe. Amid the turmoil, arrests have surged due to intensified enforcement actions.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle, further heightening the sense of fear and anger radiating across the city following the recent fatal shooting of a woman by an immigration agent.

Protests erupted Wednesday night near the scene of the shooting, with officers donning gas masks and helmets deploying tear gas as demonstrators retaliated with rocks and fireworks. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara condemned the unrest, labeling it an unlawful assembly and urging the crowd to disperse.

These aggressive protest scenes have become increasingly common since a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good on Jan. 7, amid a sweeping immigration crackdown that has drawn thousands of federal agents into the Twin Cities area. Officers have been reported forcibly removing individuals from their vehicles and homes, prompting an outcry from the community.

Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the federal operations, calling them 'unsustainable' and characterizing the situation as 'impossible' for the local government to manage while trying to ensure public safety.

The Department of Homeland Security reported over 2,000 arrests have been made statewide since the enforcement surge began. In response to a shooting on Wednesday, DHS stated that a federal officer had acted in self-defense after being overwhelmed by a group of individuals during an attempt to apprehend a man suspected of being in the country illegally.

O'Hara acknowledged the injured man is expected to survive, whereas local leaders continue to challenge the federal actions, alleging violations of free speech and constitutional rights. The escalating tension has also reached the courts, where a request to halt the federal operations in Minnesota is under discussion.

In a related incident, the officer involved in the Good shooting reportedly sustained injuries during the encounter, raising further questions about the use of force in immigration enforcement scenarios. Good's family has retained legal representation and plans to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting.