An unlawful assembly order was issued in Minneapolis on Saturday after federal immigration agents fatally shot a 37-year-old man during an enforcement operation, a second deadly encounter in the city within weeks involving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. The order came amid growing public anger and intensifying protests against a large federal immigration enforcement presence in Minnesota.
According to city officials, the man, identified as a US citizen and licensed gun owner, was approached by Border Patrol agents during a targeted operation that had brought thousands of federal officers into the Twin Cities.
DHS said the man was armed with a 9 mm handgun and resisted officers’ attempts to disarm him, prompting defensive shots. Local authorities and some video circulating online differed on key details, adding to public mistrust and outcry.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, echoing earlier protests, questioned the continued presence of federal agents and demanded transparency.
“How many more residents, how many more Americans, need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” he asked. He also characterised the federal deployment as an invasion of the city’s autonomy.
State leaders joined the chorus of criticism. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called for state investigators to take the lead in probing the latest shooting and urged that federal agents not interfere with local safety efforts.
The most controversial incident in the surge occurred on January 7, when 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, an American citizen and mother of three, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in south Minneapolis during a large federal operation. Good was sitting in her SUV when an officer fired multiple shots, killing her.
Federal officials framed the killing as an act of self-defence, claiming Good attempted to use her vehicle against the officer. Local officials, eyewitnesses, and multiple videos circulating online strongly dispute that narrative, showing her trying to drive away rather than attack the agent.
Her death ignited widespread protests across the US and in Minneapolis, with thousands marching and chanting against the federal deployment and calling for accountability.
What is an unlawful assembly?
An unlawful assembly order is a law enforcement directive declaring that a gathering of people is no longer legal and must disperse immediately. Authorities may designate an assembly as unlawful when they determine the crowd is:
- Engaging in violence, rioting, or destruction of property
- Creating a serious public safety threat
- Refusing to comply with lawful police instructions
Once an assembly is declared unlawful, police issue an order telling people to leave the area. Those who remain after the order may be arrested for failure to disperse, and law enforcement may use crowd-control tactics such as tear gas, pepper spray, or batons, depending on local laws and the situation.
The unlawful assembly order in Minneapolis highlights escalating tensions after repeated deadly encounters between federal agents and civilians.
