Dashcam Captures Masked ICE Agents Forcibly Removing Woman; Minnesota Police Chief Intervenes

A dramatic dashcam recording captured three masked, unidentified men in an unmarked vehicle cutting off a lone female driver in Minnesota, drawing firearms and forcibly removing her from the car. The encounter, shared with MPR News by the woman involved, prompted St. Peter Police Chief Matt Grochow to intervene after federal agents returned the woman to the local police department.

Thousands of federal immigration agents have flooded Minnesota since December for Operation Metro Surge. / OCTAVIO JONES / AFP via Getty Images

What the Video Shows

The footage shows an unmarked, unlit vehicle swerving to block the woman's car. Three masked men exit, immediately drawing weapons and shouting at the driver to get out. According to the recording and accounts given to reporters, the officers did not announce their identities or read the woman her Miranda rights as they dragged her from the vehicle, pinned her to the pavement and handcuffed her. The woman says she sustained multiple cuts and bruises.

A screen grab from a video capturing the killing of Renee Good on Jan. 7 by ICE officer Jonathan Ross. / Screenshot/Max Nesterak/X

Accounts and Official Statements

The woman provided the video to MPR News and declined to be publicly identified. Her husband arrived at the scene, told the agents they were acting illegally and later contacted an attorney. One agent reportedly replied, "I'm not getting into the legality of everything." While the woman was being placed into a federal vehicle en route to the Twin Cities, the husband said the agents received a phone call and returned shortly afterward.

Alex Pretti was described by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as a

"ICE returned the female to our police department, I saw her, and I gave her a ride home," St. Peter Police Chief Matt Grochow told MPR News.

The City of St. Peter later issued a statement saying local officials did not participate in any federal enforcement activity. The statement said federal immigration authorities dropped the woman off at the police department and that Chief Grochow ensured she was transported home and offered assistance.

Bovino said Pretti

DHS Response

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a contrasting account, describing the woman as an "agitator" who was allegedly "stalking and obstructing law enforcement." DHS said officers attempted to pull her over with emergency lights to issue a warning and that she refused to stop, drove recklessly, ran stop signs, nearly collided with other vehicles and at one point drove toward law enforcement in an alleged attempt to ram a federal vehicle. DHS said the woman was arrested and noted that obstructing law enforcement is a federal offense.

Homan speaks during a news conference in Minneapolis. / Scott Olson / Scott Olson/Getty Images

Public Reaction and Context

Video of the incident drew swift online condemnation. Commentators compared the tactics to kidnapping and criticized the officers' use of masks, an unmarked vehicle and firearms. The episode comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota after recent fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during separate encounters in the Minneapolis area.

Following those shootings, Tom Homan took over ICE operations in Minnesota and pledged internal changes. Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino, who had been leading federal operations in Minnesota, was suspended after the killing of Pretti. The incident has renewed calls for clearer oversight and for local law-enforcement visibility during federal operations to protect residents' rights.

The Daily Beast has contacted MPR News for verification of the recording and the accounts reported.