National Guard Preparedness in Minnesota Following Shooting

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Wednesday that the state is ready to deploy the National Guard if needed after a woman was fatally shot during a federal immigration operation. “We have never been at war with the federal government,” he stated during a press conference.

Walz indicated that he had put the Guard on alert, which is a preliminary measure to ensure they can respond promptly amid rising tensions following the incident. “We have the National Guard ready,” he reassured. “We are prepared to deploy if needed.”

The atmosphere in Minneapolis felt charged after the shooting of a 37-year-old woman inside her vehicle. This occurred while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, were engaged in an operation, and their vehicles became immobilized in the snow.

In a tense moment, a woman reportedly confronted the officers, claiming she was “attacked” and attempted to run them over with her car.

Federal law enforcement shot at the woman, which led to her crashing into an adjacent vehicle. Tragically, she was declared dead at the scene. Department of Homeland Security officials later revealed that the ICE officer involved had previously suffered injuries during a different incident last June while on duty.

Governor Walz emphasized that the National Guard members are local residents, highlighting that they are not brought in from outside the state. He stated, “Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political struggle.” He added, “We don’t take the bait,” signifying a firm stance against political manipulation in the wake of such critical events.