WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) – The Minneapolis police chief criticized federal immigration enforcement tactics after a chaotic scene unfolded this week that involved an officer dragging a woman through a snowy city street.
Speaking to a local CBS News affiliate, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said ICE did not appear to take steps to de-escalate the situation as bystanders shouted at agents and threw snowballs on Monday. At one point, a federal officer drew his firearm and waved it at the crowd, according to video footage.
“We have been training our officers for the last five years very, very intensely on de-escalation, but unfortunately that is … often not what we are seeing from other agencies in the city,” O’Hara said.
President Donald Trump’s administration has increased immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities in recent weeks. Trump called Somali immigrants there “garbage” and said they should be deported after dozens of people, including Somali immigrants, were charged in a fraud scheme.
Democrats in Minnesota have criticized the ICE push. O’Hara has said ICE tactics are stoking fear, including the practice of hiding their identities with masks and unmarked clothes.
ICE said in a statement to the local CBS affiliate on Tuesday that agents arrested two U.S. citizens for assaulting federal officers.
O’Hara said the scene was secure when his department’s officers arrived.
“Once that was determined that the scene was safe and there was no violence occurring, our officers disengaged from the scene,” he said.
(Reporting by Ted Hesson; Additional reporting by Kristina Cooke; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Comments