Minneapolis ICE shooting updates: Protests remain peaceful despite arrests: Officials

Vice President JD Vance defended the actions of the ICE officer who shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, expressing visible frustration at what he said is a characterization of the agent as a "federal assassin," in remarks during a White House press briefing.

He called the woman's actions an "attack on federal law enforcement" and an "attack on the American people," asserting that "she was trying to ram this guy with her car."

"He shot back. He defended himself," Vance said of the ICE officer.

"The reason this woman is dead, is because she tried to ram somebody with her car, and that guy acted in self-defense," Vance said. "That is why she lost her life, and that is the tragedy."

At the same time, Vance said that it's up for debate what was going through the mind of the 37-year-old driver at the time.

"Look, if people want to say that we should have a legitimate debate about, you know, what was she really doing? Right? Was she panicking when she drove into this officer, or was she actually trying to ram him? That's a reasonable conversation," he said.

"I don't know what is in a person's heart or in a person's head, and obviously, we're not going to get the chance to ask this woman what was going on. What I am certain of is that she violated the law," he said.

Vance also claimed, without providing evidence, that the shooting victim was part of a "left-wing network" targeting ICE officers.

When asked by ABC News' Rachel Scott who is behind that alleged network, he said, "It's one of the things we're gonna have to figure out.

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a warning to those protesting in Minneapolis -- don't cross a "red line" by committing violence.

"Peacefully protesting is a sacred American right protected by the First Amendment. Obstructing, impeding, or attacking federal law enforcement is a federal crime. So is damaging federal property," she wrote on X. "If you cross that red line, you will be arrested and prosecuted. Do not test our resolve."

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday commended protesters for demonstrating peacefully during a vigil for the shooting victim last night.

"What we saw was a beautiful vigil to a life that we're starting to learn more about," he said.

The agent involved in the deadly shooting is a member of ICE's Special Response Team (SRT), according to a law enforcement official, and is based in Minneapolis.

The agent has 10 years of experience, according to a source.

The SRT is deployed for high-profile situations and in tactical situations. They are highly trained, according to current and former officials.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

During his press briefing, Gov. Tim Walz called on the Trump administration to "leave Minnesota alone" in the wake of the deadly ICE shooting.

To President Donald Trump, he said he would ask him to "deescalate in the moment," allow Minnesotans to grieve and "allow this investigation to be played out by the rule of law."

He said he believes the nation may be looking to Minnesota to "hold the line on democracy, to hold the line on decency, to hold the line on accountability."

"Minnesotans, again, don't give them the unrest that they want. Don't give in to allowing them to bring more folks in here. Don't allow them to expand this somewhere else," Walz said in closing. "Rise up. Wrap your arms around your neighbors. Peacefully express your First Amendment, your constitutional rights, and let's start healing."