Fatal Shooting During ICE Operation Sparks Outrage and Protests in Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN - January 7, 2026--A confrontation between federal immigration agents and protesters in south Minneapolis turned deadly Wednesday when an ICE officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a local resident and self-described legal observer, as she sat in her vehicle during a large-scale enforcement action.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the incident as an act of self-defense, stating that Good "weaponized her vehicle" in an attempt to run over officers who were conducting targeted arrests amid rising tensions in the city's immigrant communities. DHS officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem, labeled the alleged vehicle assault an "act of domestic terrorism" and blamed sanctuary city policies for a sharp increase in threats and attacks on federal agents.

However, eyewitness videos circulating widely on social media paint a more ambiguous picture. The footage shows Good's SUV reversing briefly before moving forward slowly in what appears to be an effort to maneuver away from approaching agents surrounding her vehicle. It is not clear from the available video whether Good was deliberately attempting to strike an officer or simply trying to escape a chaotic and intimidating situation where her car was effectively cornered.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz quickly disputed the federal narrative, with Frey demanding that ICE agents "leave the city immediately" and Walz placing the National Guard on standby amid growing protests. Local leaders accused DHS of prematurely concluding the incident was justified without a full investigation, pointing to the video as evidence that deadly force may have been unwarranted.

Renee Good.

The shooting occurred near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue, a residential area close to immigrant-owned businesses that have been the focus of recent federal raids. Good, a U.S. citizen, was not believed to be a target of the operation. Protests erupted shortly after, with crowds gathering at the scene, clashing with agents who deployed chemical irritants, and vigils forming in her memory.

This marks at least the ninth fatal shooting involving ICE since expanded enforcement operations began under the current administration, highlighting deepening divisions over immigration tactics in progressive cities like Minneapolis. Federal officials vow to continue the surge, while state and local authorities call for accountability and de-escalation.

The incident remains under investigation, with conflicting accounts leaving the public to grapple with questions about use of force and public safety in an increasingly polarized environment.