Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Minneapolis has again made US headlines when a federal immigration (ICE) officer shot and wounded a Venezuelan man during a traffic stop on Wednesday, an episode that intensified public anger over the expanding presence of federal agents in the city.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the man attempted to flee after his vehicle struck a parked car. An officer pursued him on foot and became involved in a physical confrontation.
According to DHS, two people from a nearby apartment struck the officer with a snow shovel and a broom handle.
During the struggle, the Venezuelan allegedly used one of the tools against the officer, who then fired his weapon and hit the man in the leg.
The shooting occurred one week after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a US citizen and mother of three, during a separate encounter. Her death sparked protests and demands from local leaders to end what they described as a heavy-handed federal operation.
Demonstrations followed Wednesday’s incident, with clashes between residents and law enforcement stretching late into the night.
Officers used tear gas after protesters threw rocks, ice, and fireworks. Streets filled with smoke as police and federal agents attempted to clear the area.
Despite criticism, the Trump administration said it would send additional agents to Minneapolis, adding to a large federal force already active in the city.
Officials argued that Democratic-led cities failed to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Residents and advocacy groups reported aggressive tactics. Armed agents in camouflage and face coverings carried out street stops in residential areas, sometimes forcing people from vehicles.
Videos circulated online show protestors from affected communities in direct confrontations with counter-protestors, of whom majority are Caucasian, which drew accusations of racial targeting.
DHS denied misconduct claims and said officers faced repeated attacks while carrying out their duties. The agency also defended recent arrests of legal refugees, which humanitarian groups said included children.
As federal operations expands, Minneapolis remains tense, with community trust eroded and no clear end in sight to the standoff between residents and immigration authorities.
The incidents come at an increasingly tense juncture with the Trump administration’s draconian crackdown on immigration. Just yesterday, the US announced it is suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Morocco. The freeze takes effect January 21, and targets applicants officials deem likely to become a “public charge” on government benefits. The State Department claims immigrants from the affected nations “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.”
