Washington, Jan 9 (NationPress) US Vice President JD Vance has come to the defense of an ICE officer who fatally shot a woman during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Vance labeled the incident a tragedy but emphasized that the officer acted in self-defense, blaming Democrats and sections of the media for inciting animosity towards federal agents.

During a White House briefing on Thursday, Vance described the incident as an attack on federal law enforcement and maintained that the woman, Renee Good, had deliberately driven her car towards the officer, accelerating towards him.

Vance, who is 41, claimed that critics were distorting the facts. He cited a CNN headline that read, “Outrage after ICE officer kills US citizen in Minneapolis,” stating, “that’s how many in the corporate media have portrayed this incident over the past day.”

He argued that the officer had genuine reasons to be concerned for his safety, recalling a previous incident where he was nearly dragged by a vehicle that left him with 33 stitches in his leg. “So, you can understand why he might be a bit apprehensive about someone trying to hit him with a car,” Vance said.

Vance insisted that Good was not merely an innocent bystander, stating, “That woman was present to disrupt a legitimate law enforcement operation in the United States. She attempted to ram her vehicle into him, and he responded to defend himself.”

When questioned about whether his remarks could influence the ongoing investigation, Vance asserted, “The reality is clear in this case. You have a woman trying to obstruct a lawful operation, and that’s not up for debate.”

He also suggested that public disagreements regarding immigration policy should be handled politically rather than through confrontations with law enforcement. “The best way to reduce tensions is by voicing your immigration policy concerns at the ballot box,” he remarked, adding, “We cannot yield to terrorism in this matter.”

Vance expressed opposition to state-level involvement in the investigation, stating, “This is a federal law enforcement issue. The officer is entitled to absolute immunity.”

White House Press Secretary Karolina Leavitt affirmed that the administration “fully supports the brave men and women of ICE,” linking the Minnesota incident to what she termed a “broader sinister left-wing campaign” against federal law enforcement. Leavitt indicated that ICE personnel are experiencing a staggering “1,200% increase in assaults, a 3,200% rise in vehicle rammings, and an 8,000% surge in death threats.”

She confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security would persist in operations in Minnesota, not only for immigration enforcement but also to investigate alleged fraud, mentioning that they have “activated thousands of federal agents,” “doubled the number of US attorneys in the Minneapolis DOJ office,” and “allocated more resources to hold wrongdoers accountable.”

Vance criticized the Democratic leadership in Minnesota for facilitating misconduct and unrest, referring to Governor Tim Walz as a joke and alleging that he has “enabled fraud and may have been involved in it himself.”

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the United States, focusing on identifying, detaining, and deporting individuals residing in the country unlawfully. The agency has been at the center of political debates for years, particularly regarding deportation policies and federal authority.