AOTR URGENT ALERT: Escalation & Force — ICE Opens Fire in Twin Cities
We stand with communities, advocates, and local leaders demanding transparency and accountability after ICE agents opened fire during a chaotic apprehension in St. Paul, escalating an encounter that left multiple people injured and deepened concerns about federal enforcement tactics in Minnesota.
According to DHS, agents attempted to detain Juan Carlos Rodrigues Romero, an undocumented Cuban man, during a stop. When he did not comply, agents threatened to break his window — and a high‑risk pursuit began. DHS claims Romero struck officers and vehicles as he fled, prompting one agent to fire “defensive shots” before Romero was tackled and arrested. No local police were involved.
This incident comes amid intensified federal operations across the Twin Cities, where communities have already raised alarms about racial profiling, aggressive traffic‑stop tactics, and the erosion of local de‑escalation standards. Minnesota officials note that while city departments have spent years reforming use‑of‑force protocols, federal agencies operating in the region are not bound by those same commitments.
Advocates warn this reflects a broader pattern: federal agents relying on rammings, PIT maneuvers, and firearm force, often without oversight or accountability. Recent cases in Chicago and elsewhere — including dismissed charges, disputed narratives, and mishandled evidence — show how quickly these encounters can escalate and how rarely the public receives clear answers.
#AOTR #AccountabilityNow #CommunitySafety #EndExcessiveForce
