Dozens of people were taken into custody in Minneapolis after large protests erupted following the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal immigration officer, while one police officer sustained minor injuries during the demonstrations, city authorities said.
The protests took place on Friday night, drawing more than 1,000 demonstrators into the streets. The unrest followed the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot earlier in the week during an encounter with an officer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE.
City officials confirmed that at least 29 people were arrested during the demonstrations. All were later released without being held overnight. One law enforcement officer was injured after being struck by a piece of ice but did not require hospital treatment.
Demonstrations were centred around a hotel in downtown Minneapolis where federal agents were believed to be staying. Police said some individuals forced their way into the building through an alley entrance, prompting officers to declare an unlawful assembly.
Video footage shared on social media showed protesters shining bright lights, blowing whistles and banging drums. Authorities said that while most demonstrators remained peaceful, some threw ice, snow and rocks at officers, police vehicles and nearby buildings. A second hotel in the area also reported broken windows and graffiti damage.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said officers used a restrained approach to restore order and dispersed the crowd by about 1:00 a.m. local time. He added that tensions in the city have been heightened by the increased presence of federal immigration officers, with police receiving dozens of calls daily from residents concerned about ICE activity.
Mayor Jacob Frey praised the majority of protesters for exercising their right to demonstrate peacefully but warned that anyone who damaged property or endangered others would face arrest.
The shooting that sparked the protests occurred on Wednesday during an ICE enforcement operation. According to federal officials, the agent involved acted in self-defence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the officer believed the woman posed an immediate threat.
Local officials have strongly disputed that account. Mayor Frey said he had reviewed video evidence and rejected claims that the woman attempted to harm officers, stating that she appeared to be trying to leave the scene.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting, though Minnesota officials announced they would launch their own inquiry after alleging they were excluded from the federal review. State authorities said an initial agreement for a joint investigation was later withdrawn by federal agencies.
On Saturday, three Minnesota members of Congress attempted to visit an ICE facility in Minneapolis but said they were prevented from continuing the visit. Representatives Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison and Angie Craig accused federal agencies of blocking congressional oversight.
Further demonstrations are planned in Minneapolis and several other US cities over the weekend, as advocacy groups call for greater accountability in immigration enforcement operations.