ICE Agents Draw Guns on Off‑Duty Officer Amid Minnesota Racial‑Profiling Lawsuit

Updated 2026-01-21 13:41:09+00:00 (6 articles)

Off‑Duty Officer Confronted by Armed ICE Agents Brooklyn Park police confirmed that an off‑duty officer was stopped by ICE agents while driving, forced to present identification despite her U.S. citizenship, and had her firearm drawn during the encounter. The officer attempted to record the interaction, but agents knocked the phone from her hands, preventing video evidence. Police Chief Mark Bruley said the officer identified herself as off‑duty, which led the agents to leave the scene [1][2][3].

Local Law Enforcement Calls Incident Racial Profiling State and local law‑enforcement leaders described the stop as part of a broader pattern of racial profiling against U.S. citizens, particularly Somali and Latino residents. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry warned that such incidents erode community trust built since the Floyd protests. Both officials stressed that while immigration enforcement is federal, the conduct of agents matters for public safety [1][2][3].

Operation Metro Surge Marks Largest Statewide Enforcement The Department of Homeland Security labeled the sweep “Operation Metro Surge,” the largest immigration enforcement action in its history, deploying thousands of ICE agents across Minnesota. The operation aims to detain individuals without legal status, but critics argue it expands federal reach into routine traffic stops. DHS officials claim the effort follows legal standards and targets illegal presence, not race [1].

ACLU Lawsuit Accuses DHS of Targeting Minorities The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of three U.S. citizens alleging that ICE disproportionately targeted Somali and Latino communities, violating constitutional rights. The complaint names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and several Customs and Border Protection officers, seeking injunctive relief and damages. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the profiling claims as “disgusting” and “recklessly false,” asserting enforcement is based on lawful suspicion [1].

ICE Complaint Process Hindered by Anonymous Officers ICE leadership instructed officers to submit complaints online, but agents often conceal their faces and omit name tags, making identification difficult for those filing reports. Chief Bruley noted that the lack of identifiers hampers accountability and that many affected individuals cannot name the federal officers involved. This procedural opacity fuels community frustration and calls for greater transparency [2][3].

Sources (3 articles)

Timeline

Nov 29, 2025 – Protesters block ICE agents exiting a Manhattan garage and more than a dozen are arrested after NYPD declares a “disorderly group.” Special Agent Ricky Patel apologizes to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who says the operation “endangers the public, federal agents and officers” and urges a halt to such forceful tactics[2]. The demonstration follows a wave of nationwide protests sparked by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, underscoring growing public backlash against aggressive ICE operations[2].

Dec 17, 2025 – ICE agents conduct a sweep on Lake Street and Pillsbury Avenue, pin a pregnant woman face‑down in the snow and drag her by an arm. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemns the tactics, stating they “conflict with my Christian values,” and stresses that city officers did not witness violence against federal agents[4]. The incident occurs just a few miles from the George Floyd killing site, a symbolic reminder of the city’s ongoing struggle over police conduct and racial justice since 2020[4].

Dec 17, 2025 – In a nearby South Minneapolis neighborhood, ICE agents force a woman lying in a snowbank onto her back, kneel on her, and drag her toward a vehicle while protesters shout for her release. Chief O’Hara labels the agency’s approach “questionable methods” and says it undermines community safety[1]. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin counters the criticism, claiming the woman “rushed an ICE vehicle” and that allegations of racial profiling are “disgusting, reckless, and categorically false”[1]. The clash intensifies tensions in a region already targeted by an immigration crackdown focused on the large Somali community.

Jan 20, 2026 – Minnesota law‑enforcement leaders hold a press conference accusing ICE of racially profiling U.S. citizens, citing stops in traffic and on streets based solely on skin color. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley recounts an off‑duty officer whose car ICE agents boxed in, demanded paperwork and drew guns, noting the officer’s phone is knocked from her hand when she tries to record[5][6]. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt warns that “trust built after the Floyd era is being damaged,” highlighting the erosion of community confidence after the 2020 protests[6].

Jan 21, 2026 – ICE agents draw firearms on the same off‑duty Brooklyn Park officer during a traffic stop, prompting Chief Bruley to call the encounter “alarming” and suggest it reflects a broader pattern of aggressive federal enforcement in Minnesota[3]. DHS Assistant Secretary McLaughlin repeats that profiling claims are “disgusting, reckless, and categorically false,” while the Department touts Operation Metro Surge as the largest immigration enforcement action in its history, deploying thousands of agents statewide[3]. Local sheriffs and police chiefs warn the tactics further damage trust between law‑enforcement and immigrant communities, echoing concerns raised after the George Floyd protests.