• Shooting occurred 7:30 a.m. Tuesday near Arivaca Road in southern Pima County
• FBI and Pima County Sheriff coordinating investigation with Border Patrol
• Federal officers have shot 12 people since September during DHS operations

TUCSON, AZ (TDR) — A person was shot by U.S. Border Patrol in southern Arizona on Tuesday morning, marking the latest in a series of shootings by federal immigration officers that have sparked national controversy and protests.

The individual, who has not been identified, was shot in southern Pima County near milepost 15 of West Arivaca Road at around 7:30 a.m., according to a news release from the Santa Rita Fire District.

“One person is in critical condition after a shooting involving Border Patrol near milepost 15 on Arivaca Road,” the fire district said in a statement.

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The victim was transported by medical helicopter to a regional trauma center for treatment, authorities confirmed.

FBI Coordinates Multi-Agency Investigation

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is coordinating the investigation with the FBI Phoenix-Tucson office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“We are working in coordination with the FBI Phoenix-Tucson office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

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The circumstances leading to the incident were not immediately clear. There is no information whether anyone from law enforcement was injured in the incident.

Crews from the Santa Rita Fire District and American Medical Response provided medical care to the individual on the scene before the helicopter transport, according to the news release.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment from multiple news organizations.

Part Of Broader Pattern Of Federal Shootings

This shooting comes just three days after Border Patrol fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and a couple of weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Renee Good.

Pretti and Good’s killings have triggered citywide protests and garnered criticism of DHS, including calls for Secretary Kristi Noem’s firing.

Federal immigration officers have shot 12 people since September as DHS has ramped up deportation operations around the country, according to NBC News reporting.

Minneapolis Shootings Sparked National Outrage

The January 24 shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, sparked particular controversy.

Video recordings of the incident showed Pretti filming law enforcement agents with his phone and directing traffic. Footage appears to show an agent removing a gun from Pretti’s waistband and moving away roughly one second before another agent fires at him.

Despite this, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti arrived to “inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement.”

The January 7 killing of Renee Good, also 37 and a U.S. citizen, occurred when ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot her while she was behind the wheel of her Honda Pilot SUV in Minneapolis.

“Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is bullshit,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in response to DHS statements that Good was weaponizing her SUV.

“To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis,” Frey added.

Controversial Tactic: Shooting Into Vehicles

In January 2026, The Wall Street Journal identified at least 13 instances of immigration officers “firing at or into civilian vehicles” since July 2025, resulting in at least 8 total gunshot wounds, two of which led to deaths.

At least 5 of the people shot in this time period were U.S. citizens.

Many U.S. police agencies, including the federal Department of Justice, have trained officers not to fire into moving vehicles or have banned the practice entirely due to safety concerns.

Trump Administration Defends Officers

The Trump administration has consistently defended officers involved in shootings, often releasing narratives that contradict video evidence.

Samuel Woolley, a University of Pittsburgh associate professor of communications who studies disinformation, said Trump and his allies want to be the first out with a narrative.

“What is uncommon is to make claims about a given event, including this current tragedy, that do not line up with the evidence and rather than waiting and gathering all of the evidence, to speak right away,” Woolley told NBC News.

Administration officials say Democratic lawmakers are to blame for the immigration-related violence because they criticize federal immigration enforcement operations.

Stephen Miller, Trump’s immigration policy architect, described Pretti as a “would-be assassin” on X.

Marcos Charles, acting executive associate director of ICE enforcement removal operations, said at a news conference Sunday that the chaos came from politicians.

“When sanctuary politicians, activists and the media work hard to create chaos and fear instead of using their platforms to reassure their communities, this is the result,” Charles said.

Washington Post: 16 Shootings Declared Justified

According to reporting by The Washington Post, Department of Homeland Security officers have fired shots during enforcement arrests or at people protesting their operations 16 times since July.

In each case, the Trump administration has publicly declared their actions justified before waiting for investigations to be completed, the Post reported Tuesday.

Deaths In ICE Custody Also Rising

Beyond the shootings, at least six immigrants have died in ICE custody already in 2026, and a seventh person was fatally shot by an off-duty ICE officer on New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles.

Last year, 32 deaths were reported in ICE custody. While most of the deaths were due to health complications, some detainees’ families have made accusations of abuse and medical neglect against ICE.

Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Kristi Noem on January 22 saying they are outraged by 53 deaths in ICE/CBP custody and accusing DHS of a “callous disregard for human life.”

Congressional Response

Following the January 24 killing of Alex Pretti, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Senate Democrats would not pass appropriations that included DHS funding.

Support from Senate Democrats is necessary to pass the bill. If appropriations are not passed by January 30, the government will enter a partial government shutdown.

Democratic representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) introduced articles of impeachment for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on January 14, 2026, citing obstruction of congressional oversight, violations of public trust, and self-dealing.

As federal immigration shootings reach at least 16 since July with conflicting narratives from officials and video evidence, will Congress impose greater oversight on DHS enforcement operations?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from NBC News’ reporting on the Arizona shooting, Fox News coverage, ABC News reporting, NBC News’ comprehensive list of DHS shootings, NBC News analysis of Trump administration narratives, Washington Post reporting on justified shootings, Wikipedia’s list of shootings by immigration agents, and Wikipedia’s Operation Metro Surge entry.

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