Hundreds gathered in New York City’s Foley Square on Wednesday after a woman was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis.

The mayor of Minneapolis said the ICE agent acted recklessly, but the Department of Homeland Security secretary said he acted in self-defense.

Protesters gather in Foley Square after fatal ICE shooting

Protesters began gathering in Foley Square around 6 p.m. for what was billed as an emergency rally in response to the Minneapolis shooting. It was organized by the New York Immigration Coalition.

One organizer said, in part, what happened in Minneapolis “marks a violent escalation in ICE’s tactics and the state’s repression of politician dissidents.”

The demonstrators protested for several hours, at one point marching around the nearby federal immigration building before returning to Foley Square.

New York City police officers were present for the march and protest.

The rally has been peaceful so far.

NYC leaders react to Minneapolis shooting

Wednesday afternoon, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the shooting horrific.

“I have made it clear to everyone within my city government, and that extends to NYPD, that we are going to uphold our sanctuary city policies. We are going to adhere to them,” he said. “That is why one of the 11 executive orders that we signed was to repeal the previous administration’s order to allow for collaboration with ICE on Rikers Island.”

In a post on X, he added, “This morning, an ICE agent murdered a woman in Minneapolis—only the latest horror in a year full of cruelty. As ICE attacks our neighbors across America, it is an attack on us all. New York stands with immigrants today, and every day that follows.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

“Today in Minneapolis, a masked Department of Homeland Security agent shot and killed an unarmed woman who was not the target of an immigration enforcement action.
“There is no evidence that has been presented to justify this killing. Secretary Kristi Noem is a stone-cold liar and has zero credibility. The masked ICE agent who pulled the trigger should be criminally investigated to the full extent of the law for acting with depraved indifference to human life. 
“I pray for the loved ones of the victim and stand with the people of Minneapolis during this difficult time. The American people must reject this cruelty and extremism.”