Minneapolis ICE shooting updates: Over 3,000 arrested in Minnesota, DHS says

Thousands have been arrested since Operation Metro Surge began in December.

Last Updated: January 18, 2026, 2:39 PM EST

Tensions continued over the weekend in Minneapolis, as protesters clashed in the streets with law enforcement, following the second shooting there in about a week involving a federal officer.

The Department of Homeland Security said that on Wednesday, a federal law enforcement officer shot a person, who they say had fled a traffic stop and then, along with two other people, began attacking the officer.

That incident followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, on Jan. 7. DHS officials said Good was allegedly attempting to run over law enforcement officers when an ICE officer fatally shot her -- a claim that local officials have disputed.

Jan 16, 2026, 9:22 PM EST

Judge restricts ICE tactics against protesters in Minnesota

A federal judge in Minnesota is temporarily barring federal immigration agents from retaliating against people engaging in lawful and peaceful protest as well as those observing their activities under Department of Homeland Security's Operation Metro Surge.

In an order Friday, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that federal agents deployed to the state under the operation are prohibited from arresting or detaining peaceful protesters "in retaliation for their protected conduct and absent a showing of probable cause or reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a crime or is obstructing or interfering with the activities."

A person blows a whistle as federal agents conduct an immigration raid days after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 13, 2026.
Ryan Murphy/Reuters

The order also bars Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents from stopping drivers and passengers unless there's reasonable suspicion that they're obstructing federal enforcement activities.

"The act of safely following Covered Federal Agents at an appropriate distance does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop," the judge wrote.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit in December on behalf of plaintiffs who alleged that they were arrested for lawfully protesting or documenting DHS activity.

Federal officials disputed much of the lawsuit's claims. Immigration officials say crowds often became large, hostile and dangerous, with people throwing snowballs, ice, and other objects, blocking vehicles, and surrounding officers. They say pepper spray and other force was used only after repeated warnings and when agents could not move their vehicles safely.

Menendez's ruling applies to "all persons who do or will in the future record, observe, and/or protest Operation Metro Surge and related operations."

DHS is mandated to share the order with all agents in the area over the next 72 hours.

-ABC News' Armando Garcia and Jason Volack

Jan 16, 2026, 9:22 PM EST

Bondi: 'No one is above the law'

Following news of the federal investigation being opened into Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a brief statement on social media: "A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law."

Jan 16, 2026, 8:00 PM EST

Minnesota attorney general reacts to federal probe: 'Bullying'

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison reacted to the federal investigation into Minnesota's and Minneapolis' leaders during an interview on ABC News Live Prime, calling it "more political motivation and bullying from the White House."

"This seems to be nothing more than politics from the Trump administration," Ellison said. "But it bothers me deeply because I think that we have to enforce the law, but when powerful leaders use it and weaponize it against people who are just doing their jobs as their voters elected them to do, that's a very sad day in America."

Ellison said he immediately thought of the federal investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, "two politically motivated prosecutions that collapsed."

Jan 16, 2026, 6:25 PM EST

Federal probe opened into Minneapolis mayor, Minnesota governor: Officials

PHOTO: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to reporters at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. Jan. 5, 2026. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks during a press conference in Minneapolis, Jan. 9, 2026.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to reporters after he announced that he would not seek reelection, at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. Jan. 5, 2026. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks during a press conference, following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, in Minneapolis, Jan. 9, 2026.
Tim Evans/Reuters | Tyrone Siu/Reuters

A federal investigation has been opened into Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz into whether they have been obstructing federal law enforcement activities in the state, according to multiple U.S. officials.

In response, Walz said, "Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic."

"The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her," he added. 

ABC News has reached out to the mayor for comment and hasn't heard back.

-ABC News' Pierre Thomas, Jack Date, Luke Barr and Isabella Murray

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