In Jacksonville, Florida, the community is mobilizing in response to the cell phone footage that captured the deadly encounter. The incident, which involved the shooting of a 37-year-old woman during an immigration operation on Wednesday, has raised significant concerns at various governmental levels, despite federal officials’ claims of self-defense.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE agent’s actions were in self-defense. They reported that the woman was shot while inside her vehicle after a group of individuals attempted to obstruct the officers during the operation.

Footage recorded by bystanders from multiple perspectives shows an officer approaching an SUV that was halted in the middle of the street, instructing the driver to unlock the door while attempting to open it himself. As the vehicle begins to move forward, another ICE officer, positioned in front of the SUV, draws his firearm and fires into the vehicle, retreating as it advances toward him. The videos do not clearly show whether the vehicle made contact with the officer.

Videos taken by bystanders from different angles show an officer approaching an SUV stopped across the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle. The car begins to pull forward and a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle pulls his weapon and immediately fires into the SUV, jumping back as it moves toward him. It is not clear in the videos if the vehicle makes contact with the officer.

After the initial video was released, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said it does not appear to show the vehicle being weaponized against the agent.

Local immigrant advocates say what happened in Minneapolis is deeply concerning and they plan on holding an emergency rally in protest.

“That’s not acceptable, and it is our duty as Americans, as people of conscience, to stand up and say that we won’t accept it,” said Maria Garcia with the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance. “I’m sure when she went out there that day, she didn’t go out with the thought that she may lose her life.”

“If they can get away with it in Minneapolis, then they could certainly do that here. There have been immigration raids and immigration enforcement happening in Jacksonville and in North Florida.” 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the shooting was an act of self-defense. She and President Trump labeled the incident an act of domestic terrorism and praised the agent’s actions.

“An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively shot to protect himself and the people around him, and my understanding is that she was hit and is deceased,” said Noem. 

This occurred after more than 2,000 ICE agents were deployed to Minneapolis.

“It’s obviously very concerning whenever there’s a shooting into a vehicle of someone who’s not armed, but it also is something that is possible at times it is justified, but it is very concerning,” said Brian O’Hara, Minneapolis Police Chief. 

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is urging calm nationwide, as emotions run high

“The desire to get out and protest and to speak up to this administration of how wrong this is, that, that is a patriotic duty at this point in time, but it needs to be done safely,” said Governor Walz.

Thursday evening, activists in Jacksonville will be outside the federal courthouse to speak out against the incident and demand an end to ICE operations.