The Fatal Shooting of a US Citizen by an ICE Officer in Minneapolis Sparks Outcry
A US citizen was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday, potentially becoming a flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts in American cities. Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot while seated in the driver’s seat of her car.
DHS Labels Good as a “Rioter”
The Department of Homeland Security described Good as a “rioter” who was obstructing and attempting to use her vehicle against officers enforcing immigration laws. However, three videos captured of the scene and reviewed by CNN show nuance, revealing details that challenge the agency’s characterization.
“We’re not leaving until the problem is solved,” the agency said in a post on social media before the shooting.
Outrage from State and Local Officials
Good’s killing has prompted outrage from state and local officials who said a violent incident like this is exactly what they feared when the surge of federal resources into the Twin Cities began in December. At a press conference after the shooting, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he had been “warning for weeks” that ICE operations in his state were a “threat to public safety.”
“Get the f**k out,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey bluntly told ICE during the same event.
Trigger for the Operation
The immigration-enforcement operation in Minneapolis was prompted in part by a conservative content creator’s viral video describing alleged fraud across Minneapolis daycare centers. This came as Trump spent months expressing animus against Somali Americans, referring to them as “garbage” in xenophobic screeds.
Minneapolis hosts the largest diaspora of Somalis in the US, making it a focal point for immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, surged law enforcement up to about 2,000 immigration-enforcement officers by January during a maneuver it named “Operation Metro Surge.”
Context of the Surge
The Minneapolis surge followed other operations in large cities, mostly led by Democrats, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, and Washington, DC. While DHS claims it is targeting the “worst of the worst” with violent convictions or criminal records, CNN has previously reported that the agency has detained American citizens or people without criminal records and has often used force against individuals protesting their presence.
Aftermath and Next Steps
At least three videos captured Good’s shooting or its immediate aftermath. One video posted online shows Good in her car, a maroon Honda Pilot, which is perpendicular in the middle of the street. Several unmarked law enforcement vehicles approach Good’s car, with one passing in front of her and Good waving her hand out of the window.
“Get out of the car,” the officers cautioned before the incident.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said at a news conference Friday that she is “not opposed to sending more” immigration authorities to Minneapolis following the shooting. The incident has intensified debates over the role of federal law enforcement in local communities and the use of force during immigration raids.
