ICE Shoots Venezuelan Migrant in the Leg During Minneapolis Operation

• ICE shooting in Minneapolis leaves Venezuelan migrant injured.
• Local authorities reject federal immigration operations.
• Use of force reignites community and political tension.

An ICE agent fired at a person during an arrest operation in downtown Minneapolis, leaving the individual with a gunshot wound to the leg.

The incident occurred this Wednesday and was confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security, which justified the use of the weapon by the officer involved.

Venezuelan migrant injured by ICE gunfire: What happened?

According to the official version, the agent opened fire after the individual allegedly resisted arrest and “violently assaulted” the officer during the operation.

Federal authorities stated that the shot was a direct response to an immediate physical threat.

🇺🇸🇻🇪 | Chaos erupted in north Minneapolis after a young man of Venezuelan nationality was shot by ICE agents after they said they were attacked with a shovel. pic.twitter.com/qe5uoeZh9L

— Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundoNews) January 15, 2026

The incident took place in a city already marked by recent episodes of violence linked to immigration operations, creating a climate of growing social tension.

Just one week earlier, another ICE operation ended with the death of a U.S. citizen in the same area.

According to preliminary reports from local media, the injured person is believed to be a Venezuelan national, although this information has not yet been officially confirmed.

What is the federal version regarding the use of force

The Trump administration publicly backed the agent’s actions, arguing that the injured individual had attacked the officer using a snow shovel.

In a statement, it was indicated that the shot was fired “in self-defense” in response to an assault that allegedly involved other people present at the scene.

At 6:50 PM CT, federal law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted traffic stop in Minneapolis of an illegal alien from Venezuela who was released into the country by Joe Biden in 2022.

In an attempt to evade arrest, the subject fled the scene in his vehicle and crashed…

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 15, 2026

Federal officials insisted that the agent acted in accordance with established protocols for high-risk situations. However, it has not been reported whether the officer was placed on leave while the investigation proceeds.

Videos recorded by bystanders show a heavy police presence in the area, with federal agents, official vehicles, and security tape blocking several downtown streets.

The images spread quickly on social media, accompanied by messages of rejection and calls for accountability.

Dozens of protesters gathered at the scene demanding that the agent who fired be identified and that immigration operations in the city be halted.

Local reaction and protests against the ICE operation

The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, condemned the shooting and publicly called for immigration agents to leave the city. City officials stated that these federal actions are generating fear, chaos, and a breakdown in trust with the local community.

Municipal authorities have expressed that ICE operations do not have the support of local government and worsen social tensions. In statements shared on social media, it was said that the city is not a federal operations zone.

BREAKING: a Venezuelan illegal was just shot by ICE in Minneapolis after attempting to harm an agent by swinging a shovel at him

The illegal was shot in the leg and is in stable condition pic.twitter.com/8zXM7w5ubm

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 15, 2026

Protests continued for hours, with chants demanding justice and an end to the use of lethal force in immigration procedures. Community organizations warned that the situation could escalate if immediate changes are not made to the federal strategy.

The memory of the case of Renee Good, fatally shot on January 7 by an ICE agent, remains very present among protesters.

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A pattern of violence that continues to generate backlash and controversy

Good’s death triggered thousands of demonstrations nationwide and deepened the conflict between local authorities and the federal government. Since then, Minneapolis has become a symbol of the clash between immigration policies and municipal governments.

During the first year of Donald Trump’s term, ICE intensified arrests and deportations in several cities. That increase in operations was accompanied by incidents involving gunfire, deaths, and injuries.

Various sectors have criticized the repeated use of lethal force by federal agents in immigration procedures. Protests and challenges have multiplied across different regions of the country.

The latest shooting in Minneapolis once again places ICE tactics and their impact on migrant communities under scrutiny.