DOJ Clears ICE Officers in Minneapolis Shooting, Cites Insufficient Evidence for Civil Rights Charges

The U.S. Department of Justice announced today it will not pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers involved in the July 2025 fatal shooting of Hamza Warsame during an attempted arrest in Minneapolis. After a comprehensive review, federal prosecutors determined evidence failed to establish that officers willfully violated federal civil rights statutes during the encounter.

The incident occurred on July 15, 2025, when ICE agents attempted to execute a deportation order against Warsame, a 32-year-old Somali national. According to witness statements and forensic analysis, officers fired multiple shots during a physical altercation that erupted when Warsame resisted arrest. The shooting sparked immediate protests across Minneapolis and intensified national debates about ICE enforcement protocols.

Federal prosecutors from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota examined bodycam footage, witness interviews, and forensic evidence for fourteen months. Their 38-page closing memo states: 'Prosecutors would need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that officers intentionally used unreasonable force. The evidence shows a rapidly escalating physical struggle but doesn't meet the high bar for federal criminal civil rights charges.'

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche affirmed the decision during a press briefing, noting: 'While this outcome won't satisfy all community concerns, our review followed established legal standards requiring concrete proof of willful misconduct. Federal law sets an intentionally high threshold for these cases.' The decision follows a 22% year-over-year increase in DOJ civil rights investigations of law enforcement between 2024-2025, though federal prosecutions remain rare—only 4% of reviewed incidents resulted in charges over the past decade.

Legal experts suggest this outcome signals continued challenges in holding federal agents accountable under 18 U.S.C. § 242, which requires proving officers deliberately violated constitutional rights. 'This statute demands near-impossible evidence of intent during chaotic encounters,' said University of Minnesota law professor Elena Cruz. 'Absurdly clear video evidence or explicit admissions are typically needed.'

The ruling carries significant operational implications for ICE, which faced 48% more use-of-force incidents in 2025 than pre-pandemic levels according to agency data. Minneapolis city officials have separately allocated $6.2 million for community policing reforms since the shooting. With federal action closed, attention shifts to potential disciplinary proceedings within ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility, which has suspended 17 officers nationwide for use-of-force violations this fiscal year.