Federal immigration agents deployed chemical irritants during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis this week, forcing a live television broadcast off the air and leaving a reporter coughing on camera, an incident that has sharpened scrutiny of press safety and the expanding role of immigration enforcement in crowd control. The episode unfolded amid protests tied to Operation Metro Surge and the fatal Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, turning the Twin Cities into a focal point of national debate.
Video from the scene shows a reporter for WCCO struggling to breathe as a cloud of irritant drifted through a public street, prompting an abrupt cut from the live shot. The reporter was later identified as Esme Murphy, who was reporting alongside a photographer when federal agents moved through the area.
Authorities have not confirmed which chemical agent was used, though observers believe it was either CS gas or pepper spray-both commonly classified as riot control agents. The deployment occurred during demonstrations following the death of Renee Good, who was shot during an encounter with ICE agent Jonathan Ross, according to officials.
The response from local leaders was swift. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the federal presence, characterizing it as a "federal invasion" and raising concerns about the scope and tactics of the operation. City officials said they had ordered reviews of available footage to determine whether force was used appropriately.
Witnesses described federal agents firing what appeared to be pepper bullets and tear gas canisters without warning. State Rep. Aisha Gomez, who was present during the confrontation, said, "everyone is coughing," after chemical agents were released near peaceful observers and members of the press.
Reports from international and domestic outlets indicated that chemical irritants were also used during clashes in nearby St. Paul, as officers sought to disperse crowds protesting ICE activity. In a separate confrontation, authorities said an ICE agent shot a man in the leg after the individual allegedly fled, resisted and assaulted the agent during a targeted stop. Both the man and the agent were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.
Under U.S. law, federal agencies including ICE are permitted to use certain riot control agents domestically, provided the force is necessary and proportionate. Policies require that deployment minimize harm and allow people to leave the area safely, standards critics argue were not met when a live news crew was caught in the exposure.
The incident has fueled accusations that the chemical deployment amounted to press intimidation rather than routine crowd control. One widely shared comment framed the episode bluntly: "A reporter coughing uncontrollably on live TV isn't an 'accident.' It's the message: Stop filming. Stop asking. Stop looking."
