Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made it clear Wednesday that an ICE officer was struck by a vehicle before fatally shooting the driver during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis—details that significantly undercut the narrative being pushed by local Democratic leaders.
According to Noem, the officer was hit by the vehicle and required hospital treatment before being released. “She hit him. He went to the hospital. A doctor did treat him. He has been released, but he's going to spend some time with his family,” Noem said, as reported by The Washington Post. Facts matter—even when they’re inconvenient.
Noem did not mince words, calling the incident an “act of domestic terrorism” and emphasizing that the vehicle was used as a “deadly weapon.” As she explained in a press briefing cited by ABC News, “Deadly force is perfectly lawful when a threat is faced by a weapon.” Apparently, some people need that spelled out.
The Department of Homeland Security backed that account, stating—through DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin—that the ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of fellow officers, and public safety, fired defensive shots. That’s called training doing its job.
President Donald Trump echoed that assessment on Truth Social, saying the officer appeared to act in self-defense. He described one woman at the scene as a “professional agitator” and said the driver was violently and willfully obstructing and resisting before running over the ICE officer. Straightforward language, no political spin required.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, however, quickly rejected the self-defense explanation after reviewing video of the incident. He accused the agent of recklessly using power and ended his remarks by telling ICE to “get the [expletive] out” of Minneapolis—a response that sounded more emotional than factual.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz added to the tension by issuing a “warning order” to prepare the Minnesota National Guard, while simultaneously urging what he called “peaceful resistance.” That combination raised more than a few eyebrows.
State officials said the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is working with the FBI and that the investigation is still in its early stages. Noem, meanwhile, made one thing very clear: the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts will not be deterred by the shooting.
The message from Washington is firm—law enforcement has the right to defend itself, the rule of law still applies, and intimidation or violence will not stop federal officers from doing their jobs. In times like these, clarity and resolve matter, and the administration is showing both.
