In a significant development for a high-profile law enforcement case, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) announced on Thursday, January 8, 2026, that it has been compelled to withdraw from its investigation into a fatal shooting involving a federal immigration agent. The decision came after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) abruptly terminated their cooperative agreement with the state-level agency.
The case centers on the death of a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis, who was fatally shot by an agent from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The BCA, which had been leading the probe, stated that the federal withdrawal of support created an insurmountable obstacle. The federal agencies’ exit means the BCA no longer has access to critical evidence, witness testimonies, and case information gathered under the federal purview.
In an official statement, the BCA expressed profound frustration with the turn of events, emphasizing that its standards for a transparent and thorough investigation, as mandated by Minnesota state law and public expectation, could no longer be met. ‘Without complete access to the evidence, witnesses, and information collected, we cannot proceed,’ the Bureau stated, characterizing its withdrawal as ‘reluctant.’ This move halts the state’s independent inquiry and casts serious doubt on the future of accountability in the case, effectively leaving the investigation in the hands of the federal agencies that were subjects of the probe. The incident raises urgent questions about jurisdictional conflicts and oversight in cases involving federal law enforcement officers.