Month: January 2026

A woman was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a federal immigration operation in south Minneapolis on Wednesday, prompting sharp disputes between federal officials, local leaders, and witnesses, as well as renewed protests over immigration enforcement in the city. As investigations continue, the city urged residents to avoid the area near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue, warning that the heavy federal presence and ongoing protests have made the situation volatile.

The incident unfolded amid a major expansion of federal immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that an ICE agent fired the fatal shots during what it described as a targeted enforcement action near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Federal officials said agents became surrounded while carrying out their duties in severe winter conditions.

According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, officers’ vehicles became immobilized in the snow as agents attempted to leave the area. She said the woman who was killed used her car against officers, claiming she “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them.” McLaughlin said the agent responded with “defensive shots” and later characterized the woman as part of a group of “violent rioters.” The officer involved has not been identified.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed that account during a press briefing in Texas, describing the shooting as an “act of domestic terrorism. What had happened was our ICE officers were out in enforcement action, they got stuck in the snow because of the adverse weather that is in Minneapolis. They were attempting to push out their vehicle, and a woman attacked them and those surrounding them and attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle.”

Local officials and Democratic leaders strongly rejected the federal version of events. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed the woman was 37 years old and demanded ICE withdraw from the city, calling the shooting “an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying, getting killed.” Frey also said, “The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city,” adding, “We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”  Frey pushed back on DHS’s narrative: “They are already trying to spin this as an action of self defense,” Frey said, referring to ICE. “Having seen the video of myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is b—s—  “They are ripping families apart, sowing chaos in the streets and, in this case, quite literally killing people. Frey had a message for federal immigration agents in the city: “To ICE, get the f— out of Minneapolis,” the mayor said. “We do not want you here.”

According to accounts given to local station WCCO, neighbors used whistles to alert residents to ICE activity around 9:30 a.m. Witnesses said several federal agents surrounded a Honda Pilot and one agent attempted to open the driver’s door. The vehicle reportedly shifted into reverse and then drive before three gunshots were heard. The SUV continued another 20 to 30 feet before striking a light pole or another vehicle. Video obtained by KARE 11 showed a burgundy SUV with an apparent bullet hole in the windshield and damage consistent with a crash. Witnesses said paramedics attempted CPR after the woman was pulled from the vehicle, but she later died at the scene. Federal officials said several ICE officers were injured but are expected to recover fully, without detailing the nature of those injuries.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz blasted DHS during a news conference for saying they knew the motives of the dead woman without doing an investigation, adding that he had issued a so-called warning order to state officials to prepare to deploy Minnesota National Guard troops.  Walz said: “We have someone dead, in their care, for no reason whatsoever. We’ve been warning for weeks that the Trump administration’s dangerous, sensationalized operations are a threat to our public safety, that someone was going to get hurt. Just yesterday, I said exactly that. What we’re seeing is the consequences of governance designed to generate fear, headlines and conflict. It’s governing by reality TV, and today that recklessness cost [someone] their life. I have a simple message: We don’t need any further help from the federal government. To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem: You’ve done enough.”

President Trump said after seeing video of the fatal shooting that the agency’s officer was acting “in self defense.” The President wrote on Truth Social: “I have just viewed the clip of the event which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a horrible thing to watch. The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense. Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital. The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis. They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE. We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate!”

Editorial credit: Copyright Lawrey / Shutterstock.com

U.S. forces seized two oil tankers tied to Venezuela on Wednesday — one in the North Atlantic and another in the Caribbean — escalating Washington’s global effort to enforce sanctions and block what officials describe as illicit oil shipments connected to Venezuela’s shadow fleet.

One of the vessels, the Russian-flagged Marinera, formerly known as the M/V Bella 1, was taken into custody in the North Atlantic after weeks of pursuit. U.S. European Command said the tanker was seized under a federal court warrant for violating U.S. sanctions and transporting Iranian oil.  “The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro,” the agency said.  U.S. officials said the Marinera had a history of transporting Venezuelan crude and had been under U.S. sanctions since mid-2024 for involvement in prohibited oil trading. The vessel was last tracked earlier this month near the waters off Scotland, after briefly activating its transponder. Officials said Russia sent two naval ships and a submarine to escort the Marinera, which was between Iceland and Britain, heading northeast.

At nearly the same time, U.S. Southern Command announced, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the seizure of a second tanker, the M/T Sophia, which it described as “a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker.” In a post on X, the agency said the U.S. Coast Guard was escorting the vessel to the United States for “final disposal,” and no American personnel were injured. SOUTHCOM accused the M/T Sophia, of carrying out “illicit activities” in international waters in the Caribbean Sea.

Russia condemned the operation, accusing Washington of breaching international law. Russia’s Transport Ministry said the Marinera had been granted temporary authorization to sail under the Russian flag in late December and claimed U.S. forces boarded the vessel in international waters. The Foreign Ministry said it was monitoring the situation closely and demanded the humane treatment and “prompt return” of Russian citizens aboard. Senior lawmakers accused the U.S. of acting unlawfully, with some describing the seizure as piracy.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the boardings were conducted just hours apart and praised the Coast Guard’s actions, describing them as “two safe, effective boardings within hours of each other.” She said the Marinera had attempted to avoid capture by changing its identity at sea, adding that the Coast Guard crew pursued the ship “across the high seas and through treacherous storms.”

The seizures come amid President Donald Trump’s renewed push to enforce what he has described as a global blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the effort remains “in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world,” adding that “The United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people. Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce—as determined by the U.S.—will be permitted.” Trump has also said Venezuela would eventually hand over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States.

The United Kingdom confirmed it provided support to the interception, including aerial surveillance and pre-planned operational assistance. British officials said intelligence assessments linked the vessel to illegal activity tied to organized crime and extremist financing.

The actions follow last month’s seizure of two other oil tankers near Venezuela and come days after U.S. forces captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces U.S. charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine trafficking. The developments have fueled uncertainty over Venezuela’s leadership, with Trump claiming the U.S. is now “in charge” of the country, while Venezuelan officials insist the government remains firmly in control.

Editorial credit: Michael Dechev / Shutterstock.com

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican who represented Northern California in Congress for more than a decade and built his political career around agriculture and water policy, has died at age 65, his office announced Tuesday. No cause of death has been released.

LaMalfa’s chief of staff, Mark Spannagel, confirmed the news early Tuesday morning, saying, “Early this morning Congressman Doug LaMalfa returned home to the Lord. He leaves a lasting legacy of servant leadership kindness to the North State.” The statement added that LaMalfa was deeply committed to his constituents, noting that “Congressman LaMalfa cared deeply for the people he served and worked tirelessly to hold the government to its word to fix our failing forests, build water storage, and leave people to be free to choose what is best for themselves.”

President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged LaMalfa’s passing during a House Republican retreat at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. “I want to express our tremendous sorrow at the loss of a great member, a great, great, great member, Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who passed away yesterday, as you probably have heard,” Trump said. He praised LaMalfa’s leadership of the Congressional Western Caucus and his focus on water policy, calling him a “true defender of American children” and adding, “He voted with me 100% of the time.”

LaMalfa had served California’s 1st Congressional District since 2013 and previously held seats in the state Assembly and Senate. A fourth-generation rice farmer, he was widely known for his advocacy on water access, forest management, and rural issues. In Congress, he served on the Agriculture Committee, the Natural Resources Committee, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, while also chairing the Western Caucus.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said that “Congress is devastated to learn this morning about the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa,” describing him as one of the strongest defenders of California’s natural resources. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., also paid tribute, writing that “Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America.”

Democratic leaders offered condolences as well. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., remembered LaMalfa as a dedicated public servant, stating, “A fourth-generation rice farmer, Rep. LaMalfa treasured his community, worked powerfully to protect California’s farmers and served those he represented with principled purpose, from the state legislature to the United States House of Representatives.” Jeffries later honored him with a moment of silence during a House hearing.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the state Capitol flown at half-staff, calling LaMalfa a committed representative who fought for his district even when they disagreed politically. Under California law, Gov. Newsom has 14 days to call a special election to fill LaMalfa’s seat, with the vote required to take place within 140 days of the announcement. The race will unfold amid newly adopted congressional maps that make the district more competitive for Democrats.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who shared a long personal friendship with LaMalfa dating back to their time as roommates in the state legislature, said he was “devastated” by the loss. In a post on X, McCarthy wrote, “Doug was first and foremost a devoted husband and father, inspired by his Christian faith and values to make the lives of others better.” He added that LaMalfa was unanimously chosen by colleagues to lead the Western Caucus and would be “truly missed.”

LaMalfa’s death further tightens Republicans’ narrow control of the House. With his passing and the recent resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Republicans now hold 218 seats to Democrats’ 213, leaving Speaker Johnson with little room for defections. Two additional vacancies—one in Texas heading to a runoff later this month and another in New Jersey scheduled for a spring special election—could further alter the balance.

LaMalfa is survived by his wife, Jill, four children, one grandchild, and extended family.

Editorial credit: RozenskiP / Shutterstock.com

The Trump administration has ordered a sweeping pause on roughly $10 billion in federal funding for social services and child care programs in five Democratic-led states, citing concerns about fraud. The decision affects California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, according to confirmations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Management and Budget. The funding freeze is the latest in a series of clashes between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states, following previous pauses on infrastructure, climate and disaster preparedness funding during last year’s government shutdown.

The New York Post was first to report that HHS would withhold the funding that targets programs that support low-income families and children. More than $7 billion is being withheld from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which provides direct cash aid and child care support. An additional nearly $2.4 billion from the Child Care and Development Fund, which helps working parents pay for child care, has also been frozen, along with about $870 million in Social Services Block Grant funding. Federal child care assistance supports an estimated 1.4 million children nationwide.

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said “for too long, Democrat-led states and Governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch. Under the Trump Administration, we are ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being used for legitimate purposes. We will ensure these states are following the law and protecting hard-earned taxpayer money.”

The move follows a separate decision last week to halt child care funding in Minnesota amid ongoing federal investigations into fraud in public assistance programs. Minnesota has been at the center of several high-profile cases since 2021, including a $250 million COVID-era scheme involving the nonprofit Feeding Our Future and other alleged fraud tied to housing and disability services. Prosecutors estimate that fraud uncovered in the state could ultimately total billions of dollars.

Outside Minnesota, the administration has not presented evidence of widespread fraud in the other four affected states, whose officials say they have received little clarity. The Colorado Department of Human Services told CNN it had not been formally notified of a funding freeze. “Should these funding sources change, we remain committed to supporting our families in Colorado and will continue to advocate for the programs and services that help them thrive,” the department said.

Democrats have sharply criticized the action, arguing it amounts to punishment of political rivals rather than a good-faith effort to address fraud. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York called the move retaliatory. “To use the power of the government to harm the neediest Americans is immoral and indefensible,” she said, adding, “This has nothing to do with fraud and everything to do with political retribution that punishes poor children in need of assistance.”

Editorial credit: noamgalai / Shutterstock.com