On Jan. 7, 2026, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed awoman in Minneapolis, igniting fierce debate over law enforcement use of force, federal-state jurisdiction and the presence of immigration agents in American cities.
The victim was identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was a U.S. citizen and a mother of three who lived near the scene.
According to federal officers, the shooting occurred during a large immigration enforcement operation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Minneapolis. As stated by DHS, Good’s vehicle drove toward ICE officers, prompting an ICE officer to fire in what federal officers have characterized as self-defense.
A cellphone video challenged the statement that Good tried to run over an ICE agent. One of the many videos was taken by a bystander and appears to show Good’s vehicle turning away from Jonathon Ross, the ICE agent who shot and killed Good, raising questions about whether lethal force was justified in the circumstances.
Based on 1-16.000 Department of Justice Policy On Use Of Force, the policy that prohibits law enforcement from shooting at moving vehicles unless there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury is valid for ICE and other federal agencies.
“ICE agents’ decision to ignore this standard represents a dangerous and unacceptable escalation of force, rooted in outdated and reckless tactics,” a statement from National Urban League President Marc Morial and Urban League Twin Cities President Marquita Stephens.
“There have been so many angles of footage, but the only angle that is really needed is the one that is clear that [Good] is not pursuing any acts of violence and was still shot by the ICE officer,” Lauren Flynn, 9, (she/her) said.
Saria Abdalla, 12, (she/her), first saw the video on Instagram and looked to news sources to continue her research.
“My initial reaction was ‘whoa.’ I already knew [ICE] was violent, but it made me think, if ICE is doing this out in the street, what do you think happens to the people they have captive?” Abdalla said.
The federal narrative is that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance have defended Ross’s actions, portraying the situation as a clear and present danger to the officer’s safety. DHS initially labeled Good’s actions as “domestic terrorism.”
“I think the federal government’s description of the shooting as self-defense is not trustworthy. It was a made-up way to justify [ICE] abusing its power,” Flynn said.
Local officials, such as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have criticized the federal handling of both the shooting and the aftermath. Frey denied the self-defense claim, calling it a “garbage narrative,” and demanded ICE leave the city. Walz has demanded greater transparency from federal officials.
“This situation has changed the way I view public safety and civil rights because why is the government actively trying to go against its own people? What is the end goal?” Abdalla said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken primary control of the scene investigation, a decision that restricted access by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), leading to public friction between federal and state authorities.
“I think both the FBI and local authorities should review the situation, because if it’s just the FBI, we know there will be such strong bias because of the FBI director being hired under the Trump Administration,” Abdalla said.
A Minnesota state investigation is underway, with county and state prosecutors announcing efforts to review evidence separately from the FBI and pursue accountability where appropriate.
The incident ignited mass demonstrations in Minneapolis and across the United States, with thousands of people protesting what they see as excessive use of force and federal overreach.
“In response to the shooting, as a general society, we need to come together and band against ICE because there are so many more of us than them,” Abdalla said. “On a government level, we need to dismantle it.”
