On January 15, 2026, a federal officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, shot a Venezuelan man in the leg during an attempted arrest. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that the incident occurred when officers attempted to apprehend the undocumented immigrant, who allegedly attacked an officer with a snow shovel and broom handle during a confrontation after evading arrest by crashing his vehicle and fleeing on foot. Following the shooting, protests erupted in the city.

This incident follows a previous shooting on January 7, 2026, when an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a legal observer at a protest against immigration policies. Good's death led to widespread outrage and protests, with local officials condemning the actions of federal agents. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed anger and concern over the escalating violence, emphasizing the need for community and justice rather than chaos. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the federal response, highlighting the disproportionate number of federal officers compared to local police.

The DHS has been conducting Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, aimed at apprehending undocumented immigrants and alleged criminals. This operation has faced legal challenges, with the state of Minnesota filing a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming it constitutes an unconstitutional invasion.

As of 2023, there are approximately 770,000 Venezuelan immigrants in the United States, many of whom are undocumented due to the ongoing political and economic crisis in Venezuela. The U.S. government has taken a hard stance against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, labeling him a 'narcoterrorist' and pursuing legal actions against him, despite conflicting intelligence assessments regarding his alleged connections to criminal organizations.

In a related development, Jayden D. Scott, a 23-year-old from Bay City, Michigan, appeared via Zoom for a custody hearing on January 14, 2026, instead of reporting to jail to serve a seven-day sentence. Scott had participated in a rally in Minnesota where he made provocative statements regarding Good's shooting. He was found in contempt of court for failing to appear at a previous hearing and was ordered to report to jail by January 16. Scott's remarks and subsequent resignation from his position at a private healthcare firm have drawn attention to the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and state aggression.