Trump says ICE had to “protect themselves” after Minneapolis shooting

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that officers of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement “had to protect themselves” after a man was shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday – the second fatal shooting of a civilian in the city; sparking fresh protests and outrage from state officials.

The death came less than three weeks after US citizen Renee Good was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer involved in sweeps to round up undocumented migrants.

The Department of Homeland Security insisted its officers acted in self-defense while seeking "an illegal alien wanted for violent assault" in a "targeted operation."

But Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the shooting "horrific" and demanded that state authorities lead the investigation.

Trump posted a photo of a gun which was allegedly carried by the man, and said: “This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off?”

“It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!”

We are there because of massive Monetary Fraud, with Billions of Dollars missing, and Illegal Criminals that were allowed to infiltrate the State through the Democrats’ Open Border Policy.

“LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB! 12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota. If they were still there, you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!” Trump said on his Truth Social post.

A video circulating on social media -- and later confirmed by authorities -- show several agents, including at least one wearing a vest marked "POLICE," surrounding a person on the ground and hitting him multiple times. Several gunshots are heard.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pulled no punches, urging President Donald Trump to end the federal immigration operation, which has sparked sometimes violent demonstrations.

"This is a moment to act like a leader. Put Minneapolis, put America first in this moment -- let's achieve peace. Let's end this operation."

Police chief Brian O'Hara said an "incredibly volatile scene" had erupted after the shooting and urged residents to avoid the area.

Officers who declared the protest an unlawful assembly deployed clouds of tear gas as the crowd grew and used dumpsters to make blockades on the road in the busy south Minneapolis neighborhood known for its restaurants.

The Department of Homeland Security wrote on X that "an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and that its officers tried to disarm the man who they say "violently resisted."