Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Saturday that a federal law enforcement officer lost a finger after being attacked by an anti-ICE agitator during ongoing unrest in Minneapolis tied to immigration enforcement operations.

McLaughlin shared a photograph on social media showing the severed finger and said the injury occurred during an assault on a Homeland Security Investigations officer amid the protests.

“In Minneapolis, these rioters attacked our law enforcement officer and one of them bit off our HSI officer’s finger,” McLaughlin wrote.

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“He will lose his finger.”

McLaughlin also posted images showing two individuals appearing to be in custody, though authorities have not publicly confirmed which individual is accused of biting the officer.

 

The attack occurred as protests in Minneapolis intensified following the deaths of two U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement operations.

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Demonstrations in the city have escalated in recent days, with federal, state, and local authorities responding to repeated confrontations involving agitators and law enforcement personnel.

Earlier on Saturday, a Border Patrol agent was recorded on video fatally shooting an armed man in Minneapolis during an encounter that unfolded amid a crowd of agitators.

According to Homeland Security officials, the individual involved was a 37-year-old U.S. citizen from Minneapolis.

Federal officials said the man approached Border Patrol agents and then “violently resisted” while armed with a 9 mm pistol and two magazines. Authorities said the confrontation led to the agent firing defensive shots.

Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino addressed the incident during a news conference Saturday, describing the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the broader unrest facing federal officers in the city.

“It look[ed] like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” Bovino said.

Bovino said the situation deteriorated rapidly after the shooting, with a large group converging on the scene.

“About 200 rioters arrived at the scene and began to obstruct and assault law enforcement,” Bovino said.

He said federal authorities deployed crowd control measures and emphasized that violence against officers would not be tolerated.

“We will not allow violence against our law enforcement officers, and we need state and local help,” Bovino said.

Bovino also criticized city leadership for what he described as incomplete public statements about the shooting.

“[Minneapolis] Mayor [Jacob] Frey and [Minneapolis Police Department] Chief Brian O’Hara, just a few minutes ago, did the opposite of that by omitting the fact that the suspect had a gun and magazines full of ammunition,” Bovino said.

During his remarks, Bovino reiterated that interfering with law enforcement operations is illegal and that those who obstruct officers will face arrest. He said federal agents continue to operate in the city despite the unrest and will maintain enforcement actions.

As protests continued, state officials moved to expand the security response.

The Minnesota National Guard confirmed Saturday that additional troops will be deployed following a request from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

The Guard said that, in addition to forces already mobilized at the direction of Gov. Tim Walz, more soldiers will be brought in to assist with security operations. Guardsmen are expected to provide protection at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building and support the Minnesota State Patrol, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and other local agencies if requested.

Officials said the expanded deployment is intended to help stabilize the situation as protests and enforcement actions continue across Minneapolis.

Authorities have not provided a timeline for how long National Guard forces will remain in place.

Federal officials said investigations into both the shooting and the assault on the HSI officer are ongoing.

Law enforcement agencies said they are continuing to monitor protest activity and will respond as needed to protect officers, federal facilities, and the public as the situation develops.

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