Walz prepares National Guard after woman killed in ICE operation: 'Never been at war' with federal government

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday said the state’s National Guard was prepared to deploy if necessary following the fatal shooting of a woman during a federal immigration enforcement operation, saying “we’ve never been at war with our federal government.”

During a news conference, Walz said that he issued a warning order to the Guard, meaning an initial step to increase preparations should troops be needed amid heightened tensions after Wednesday’s shooting. 

“We are preparing the National Guard,” he said. “They are prepared to be deployed if necessary.”

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The mood in Minneapolis became tense after an unidentified 37-year-old woman was shot while in her vehicle. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were conducting an enforcement action when their vehicle got stuck in the snow.

As they were attempting to push the vehicle, she said a woman “attacked them and those surrounding them” and “attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle.”

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A federal law enforcement officer fired and shot the woman, who crashed into a nearby parked vehicle. 

She was pronounced dead at the scene. DHS told Fox News that the ICE agent who fired shots in Minneapolis on Wednesday had previously been injured in a prior altercation.

DHS officials said that while working in the city last June, the agent had been dragged by a car in a separate incident.

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Walz noted that the National Guard were residents of the state and not being bused in from elsewhere.

“Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political fight,” he said. “We will not take the bait.”