U.S. Homeland Security says ICE officer fatally shot "rioter" in Minneapolis

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot dead a woman who attempted to ram officers with her vehicle during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota, earlier that day.

"Our ICE officers were out in enforcement action. They got stuck in the snow because of the adverse weather that is in Minneapolis. They were attempting to push out their vehicle and a woman attacked them and those surrounding them and attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, calling it "an act of domestic terrorism."

"An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively shot to protect himself and the people around him. And my understanding is that she was hit and is deceased," Noem said at a press conference in Brownsville, Texas.

In a statement on X, the department said that the ICE officer "fired defensive shots," calling the woman one of the "violent rioters."

"The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. The ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries," the statement said.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded to the statement on X, saying that "I've seen the video. Don't believe this propaganda machine."

The state will ensure there is a full, fair and expeditious investigation to ensure accountability and justice, said Walz.

"To Minnesotans I say this: I feel your anger. I'm angry," Walz said at a news conference hours after the shooting. "They want a show. We can't give it to them."

The Trump administration recently deployed 2,000 federal agents and officers to the Minneapolis area amid alleged welfare fraud involving Somali residents.