Death attributed to enhanced immigration enforcement in Minnesota

By Alan Wooten
The Center Square

A protestor Homeland Security said tried to kill officers was fatally shot Wednesday in Minnesota's Twin Cities, less than 24 hours after an Ecuadorian wanted for murder in his home country was taken off the streets there.

Tricia McLaughlin of Homeland Security said a woman in a vehicle “attempting to run over our law enforcement officers” was killed. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was aware and demanded U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave the city.

"An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots," said McLaughlin, assistant secretary of Homeland Security. "He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers. The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. The ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries."

It’s a repeating chapter for enhanced enforcement of federal immigration law. The agents are not made welcome in cities where Democrats are leaders, and protests have turned violent including using vehicles as weapons against humans.

The city, in a statement, said “the presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city and making our community less safe.”

Tomas Espin Tapia, also accused of being a sexual predator, was apprehended by ICE as part of the largest to date enhanced federal immigration law enforcement. An estimated 2,000 agents have descended upon Minneapolis and St. Paul making more than 1,000 arrests of people illegally in America.

The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, said those arrested included “murderers, rapists, pedophiles and gang members.” Tapia, DHS said, came into the United States on Oct. 23, 2022, and was released in by the Biden administration. A sexual assault warrant was active for him in Connecticut at the time of his arrest.

“If you think you can come to this country and get rich defrauding the American people, think again,” Noem said alongside the agents on the ground in Minnesota, where accusations of fraud that could total $9 billion are under multiple investigations. “We will root out every case of fraud we find from Minneapolis to California to New York.

“Americans deserve justice, answers and accountability. And under President Trump, we will deliver just that. If you can’t play by the rules, you can’t stay in our great country. Period.”

Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities, started in December, is the latest coordinated enhancement of immigration enforcement.

Operation Catahoula Crunch, in New Orleans last month, generated an estimated 350 arrests. Operation Charlotte’s Web, in the Carolinas in November, led to another 425.

ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have also had enhanced operations in Chicago (about 3,000 arrests over many months), Los Angeles (10,000 arrests over more than half a year), Memphis (2,600 arrests over many months), Portland, San Diego and Denver.

In a social media post, Homeland Security said Americans would be kept safe and fraud eradicated. “We’re not leaving until the problem is solved,” DHS said.

Gov. Tim Walz, this week removing himself from a reelection campaign, on Tuesday said it was ridiculous for “50 ICE agents to arrest one guy in a library.”

“Nobody is fooled into thinking this buffoonery is a reasonable use of taxpayers dollars,” he said.

To which, Noem replied, “Really, you’re worried about taxpayer dollars? There’s been $9 billion stolen from taxpayers in Minnesota since you became governor. You won’t let us in Minnesota’s jails and there is rampant assault against our law enforcement thanks to vilification from politicians like you. So, yes, there’s strength in law enforcement numbers to remove these violent criminals from the communities you refuse to protect.”

* * *

••• Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 27 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service – and want it to continue – it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.