Kristi Noem addressed the tragic and preventable loss of life in Minneapolis, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were conducting operations amidst adverse weather conditions.

A vehicle became stuck, and a mob obstructed law enforcement, leading to an individual weaponizing her car and attempting to run over an officer, which was deemed an act of domestic terrorism. The officer fired in self-defense and is recovering.

“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here tonight. I want to start out by addressing the loss of life that we saw here in Minneapolis today. Any loss of life is a tragedy, and I think all of us can agree that in this situation, it was preventable,” Noem said.

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Noem said she spoke with the President and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz about the situation and said she wanted to reiterate the facts of what happened.

“At 10:25am, central time, Immigration and Customs Enforcement were carrying out lawful operations here in Minneapolis because of the adverse weather that Minneapolis has seen in recent snow. One of the vehicles became stuck and ensnared in the snow, law enforcement were attempting to push out this vehicle, and when a mob of agitators that were harassing them all day began blocking them in, shouting at them and impeding law enforcement operations,” she said.

According to Noem, ICE officers and agents approached the vehicle of the individual who was blocking officers in and had been stalking and impeding their work throughout the day.

“ICE agents repeatedly ordered her to get out of the car and to stop instructing obstructing law enforcement, but she refused to obey their commands,” Noem said.

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“She then proceeded to weaponize her vehicle, and she attempted to run an law enforcement officer over it. This appears as an attempt to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents, an act of domestic terrorism,” she said.

Noem said the officer fired in self-defense.

“The ice officer, fearing for his life and the other officers around him and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots. He used his training to save his own life and that of his colleagues. He was treated at a local hospital, has been released and is now with family,” she said.

Noem encouraged prayer for both the officer and the deceased individual’s family.

“I encourage the American people at this point in time to pray for him, but also to pray for the deceased family and her loved ones,” she said.

Noem said the incident was part of a broader trend of violence against federal officers.

“Today, alone, in this country, there have been four different domestic terrorist attacks on federal officers by the ramming of vehicles. Three of them happened here in Minneapolis. We’ve seen over 100 of these vehicle rammings happen in just recent weeks, and this must stop,” she said.

Noem said ICE has seen a sharp rise in threats and assaults.

“Ice alone is facing a 13 100% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats against all of them,” she said.

She added that the officer involved in the Minneapolis incident had previously been injured in a similar attack.

“In fact, the very same officer who was attacked today had previously been dragged by an anti ice rider who had rammed him with a car and drug him back in June. He sustained injuries at that time as well,” Noem said.

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