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US Justice Department halts evidence sharing in ICE shooting inquiry

Federal prosecutors have suspended cooperation with Minnesota state investigators examining fatal shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The decision marks a significant rift in a joint investigation into the controversial incidents.

LSN World News · 15 October 2026

The United States Justice Department has discontinued its evidence-sharing arrangement with Minnesota authorities investigating lethal encounters involving ICE personnel, according to informed sources. The move represents an escalation in tensions between federal and state law enforcement over oversight of the shootings.

Minnesota investigators had been working in parallel with federal prosecutors to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal incidents. The cessation of evidence transfer from Justice Department officials now limits the state's access to critical materials necessary for their independent review.

The decision underscores broader disputes over prosecutorial jurisdiction and investigative autonomy between federal authorities and state-level officials. ICE shootings have drawn heightened scrutiny from civil rights advocates and state officials concerned about accountability and transparency in federal law enforcement operations.

Neither the Justice Department nor Minnesota investigators have publicly disclosed the specific rationale behind the evidence-sharing suspension. The development raises questions about the future direction of state-level inquiries into federal officer-involved shootings and potential coordination between separate investigative branches.