Oversight Project Clears ICE Officer in Minneapolis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC – Drawing on over sixty years of law enforcement experience, the Oversight Project has taken into account all available evidence and has confirmed that the ICE officer in Minnesota is legally justified. The factual basis for this justification is included in a memorandum prepared by Oversight Project career law-enforcement experts that has been distributed to members of the news media.
This determination has been made from the perspective of the officer at the moment force is used, not from hindsight or a third party viewpoint. Evidence clearly shows that the activist drove her car into the ICE officer prior to the discharge of the officer’s firearm. A vehicle used in this manner constitutes a deadly weapon.
Federal policy states that firearms may not be discharged at a moving vehicle unless the vehicle is operating in a manner that threatens the officer’s life, which is the case in this instance. These standards are reinforced by the Supreme Court precedent under Graham v. Connor. Video evidence reveals that moving out of the path of the moving vehicle was not possible. Where deadly force is necessary, officers are trained to shoot to eliminate the threat.
Federal law enforcement officers are immune from state criminal prosecution when they act within the scope of their authorized duties. Based on the evidence, the officer acted well within his scope of federal authority and his actions were justified under the circumstances.
President Mike Howell released the following statement:
“Anti-American forces, particularly the Democrat Party, have moved beyond just undermining lawful immigration enforcement and towards sustained violence and obstruction. This unfortunately has resulted in death, including the recent event in Minnesota. Subversive radicals like Zohran Mandami, Ilhan Omar, Eric Swalwell, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Dan Goldman have been stoking further violence by falsely accusing the brave ICE officer in question of committing “murder.” That is defamatory and meant to cause more violence. Today, we are setting the record straight: our team of career law enforcement has carefully reviewed all available evidence and has cleared the officer. The ICE officer in question is not only innocent, but was entirely justified in his actions. We pray that the far-left comes to their senses and ends this violence.”
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