Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has sharply criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a disturbing incident in south Minneapolis where an ICE agent was filmed forcefully restraining and dragging a woman during an attempted arrest. The video, which circulated widely on social media this week, shows the agent kneeling on the woman’s back and later pulling her through the snow by one arm as bystanders shouted for her release.
Witnesses at the scene could be heard yelling that the woman was pregnant and struggling to breathe. Several people repeatedly urged the agents to let her go. At one point, the agent is seen dragging the woman across an intersection while members of the public protest loudly. The woman was eventually released and not taken into custody.
Chief O’Hara addressed the incident during a news conference on Tuesday, explaining that Minneapolis police were called to the scene by a federal agent who claimed assistance was needed. However, when local officers arrived, they found no active violence directed at federal personnel. Once it was determined that the situation did not pose a threat, Minneapolis police disengaged and left the scene.
O’Hara emphasized that Minneapolis officers have undergone extensive training in de-escalation techniques over the past several years. He contrasted that approach with what he described as troubling behavior by other law enforcement agencies operating in the city. He said the video footage showing the woman being dragged through the street was deeply alarming and raised serious concerns about how force was used.
In a statement later shared with Reuters, O’Hara said the incident reflected a shocking lack of respect for human dignity. He added that the apparent absence of accountability from federal partners was especially concerning and called for greater responsibility when law enforcement interacts with the public.
The video was recorded by Lauryn Spencer, a Minneapolis resident who said she was on her lunch break when she noticed whistles and car horns being used to warn the neighborhood about ICE activity. Spencer said she stopped her car and began filming as soon as she saw what was happening. When she attempted to speak to the woman being restrained, Spencer said an agent pushed her back and later sprayed her and other bystanders with chemical irritants.
Spencer described the agents as aggressive from the start, saying she did not observe any attempts to calm the situation or communicate peacefully with the crowd. She said snowballs were thrown by protesters only after the woman was dragged across the ground, and she denied claims that demonstrators initiated serious violence.
The Department of Homeland Security offered a different account of events. A DHS spokesperson said federal agents were attempting to arrest individuals connected to a vehicle when protesters allegedly threw rocks and chunks of ice, assaulted officers, and used pepper spray. According to DHS, two people were arrested and charged with assaulting federal officers, and several agents suffered minor injuries.
Federal officials also claimed the woman seen in the video was targeted for arrest after she allegedly rushed toward an ICE vehicle and tried to damage it. They said the arrest was abandoned after agents were surrounded by protesters. Video footage showed agents breaking a vehicle window and detaining a male driver before later restraining the woman.
During the confrontation, agents were seen using chemical irritants and at least one taser to control the crowd. The incident has heightened tensions in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, where federal immigration enforcement efforts have increased as part of President Donald Trump’s broader push for mass deportations.
Community leaders say enforcement tactics appear to be growing more aggressive as operations continue. Former Minnesota state legislator Hodan Hassan said she has noticed a clear shift in how agents are behaving, with encounters becoming more confrontational over time.
The clash occurred just miles from the site where George Floyd was killed in 2020, a moment that reshaped national conversations about policing, use of force, and accountability. For many in Minneapolis, the images from this latest incident have reopened painful memories and renewed calls for restraint, transparency, and respect for human rights during law enforcement operations.
