Key claim: DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin says protesters in Minneapolis have poured water onto roads to create ice that could endanger ICE agents. Context: Thousands of federal officers have been deployed amid protests after the Jan. 7 death of Renee Nicole Good. Evidence: Social media videos show a vehicle appearing to drip water and separate clips of agents slipping on icy streets. Response: The controversy has drawn political heat, investigations, and calls for documentation from state and local leaders.
DHS Says Protesters May Be Freezing Streets to Endanger ICE Agents; Videos Show Federal Officers Slipping
Good's killing has resonated worldwide, with flowers and candles seen at a vigil in front of the United States embassy in Berlin, Germany. / Adam Berry / Getty Images
The Department of Homeland Security's chief spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, has accused protesters in Minneapolis of deliberately pouring water on roads to create ice that could hinder or endanger Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during enforcement operations. The allegation comes as thousands of federal officers have been deployed to the city amid protests over an ICE-involved shooting.
Claims From DHS Spokesperson
On a Fox News appearance, McLaughlin described footage she said shows a vehicle pouring cold water onto a roadway outside an ICE facility. She warned the tactic could cause federal law enforcement vehicles to lose control, potentially leading to crashes and fatal injuries. In her words:
Donald Trump and Kristi Noem have been accused of pushing
"Your viewers can see that car was driving, pouring cold water on the ground so that it would freeze the ground in front of our federal law enforcement vehicles so that they would potentially slide, crash and potentially kill them."
Video Evidence and Local Conditions
Multiple clips circulating on social media show a blue SUV appearing to drip water onto a road near an ICE facility. Minneapolis has been experiencing temperatures around the freezing point (about 32°F / 0°C) with flurries and occasional dips into the 20s°F (around -6°C), conditions that can quickly form slick, icy surfaces on streets and sidewalks.
Footage of Federal Officers Slipping
Separately, widely shared videos show federal agents losing footing on icy sidewalks and driveways — slipping while making arrests, falling while escorting detainees, and skidding on icy roads. Those images have prompted social media mockery and local criticism that the federal operation may be unprepared for harsh winter conditions.
McLaughlin with her husband, Ben Yoho, who has previously been accused of using his relationship with Kristi Noem to benefit from a multi-million-dollar DHS ad deal. / Instagram
Deaths, Shootings, and Ongoing Investigations
Tensions in Minneapolis escalated after the Jan. 7 shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot by an ICE agent while driving away from a protest. Her death has prompted nightly demonstrations and blockades outside ICE's regional headquarters. A second ICE-related shooting in north Minneapolis wounded a Venezuelan man during what authorities described as a "targeted traffic stop." Both incidents are under investigation by local, state, and federal authorities.
Political Responses
President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops if state officials did not act to stop what he characterized as "professional agitators and insurrectionists" targeting ICE. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged residents to document interactions with federal officers, telling people to "carry your phone with you at all times" so prosecutors will have evidence. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned what he called intolerable conduct by ICE while urging protesters to avoid escalating confrontations.
Department Defense and Messaging Debate
McLaughlin has been one of the administration's visible defenders of the federal operation, arguing that enforcement actions have public support. Tom Homan, a senior border official, said the agency's main problem is perception rather than tactics, urging better public messaging and blaming negative coverage for falling favorability amid images of tear gas, pepper balls, and gunfire.
Context and Caution
Many of the claims remain contested in public discussion: footage circulating online can be ambiguous, and local officials and community members offer differing interpretations of events. The accusation that protesters intentionally create ice to cause harm is a serious claim; at this stage it is being presented by DHS spokespersons and circulated on social media while investigations into the shootings and on-the-ground tactics continue.
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