A federal agent trying to arrest an illegal immigrant in Minnesota was ambushed by people who attacked him with a shovel and a broom handle, forcing him to open fire, the Homeland Security Department said Wednesday.
The Venezuelan migrant who was the subject of the initial arrest was shot in the leg. He and the officer were taken to the hospital for treatment, the department said in a statement.
The shooting is the third this month by immigration enforcement officers — and the second to occur in Minneapolis.
Homeland Security said the attack on the officer is the result of “hateful rhetoric” coming from Democratic politicians.
“This attack on another brave member of law enforcement took place while Minnesota’s top leaders, Governor [Tim] Walz and Mayor [Jacob] Frey, are actively encouraging an organized resistance to ICE and federal law enforcement officers,” the department said.
According to DHS, officers were trying to arrest a Venezuelan illegal immigrant who entered the U.S. as part of the Biden catch-and-release policies. They performed a traffic stop in Minneapolis just before 7 p.m. local time.
The target attempted to evade, fleeing in his vehicle before crashing into a parked car, then running on foot.
One of the officers caught up with the immigrant, who continued to resist and “violently” assaulted the officer, DHS said.
As they struggled on the ground, two other people came from an apartment and began beating the officer with a snow shovel and broom handle.
The migrant then got loose and joined in the beating.
The officer then fired, hitting the migrant in the leg. All three people ran inside the apartment building and barricaded themselves, but have since been taken into custody, DHS said.
Just before the shooting Mr. Walz, the state’s Democratic governor, delivered an address accusing DHS of an “occupation.”
“It is a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government,” he said.
The remarks came a week after an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good on a Minneapolis street. Video of that attack has deeply divided the nation, with President Trump’s supporters saying it shows Ms. Good ignoring orders to get out of her SUV then aiming it toward the officer, who then drew his weapon and fired.
Mr. Trump’s opponents say Ms. Good was trying to drive away and the officer should have tried to step aside.
Also last week, a Border Patrol agent shot and wounded two illegal immigrants during an arrest attempt in Portland, Oregon. DHS says one of the migrants, driving a car, kept forwarding and reversing as he violently tried to smash his way out of a box-in by government vehicles.
