Civil liberties and migrant-rights organizations are calling for nationwide demonstrations following the fatal shooting of a Minnesota activist by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. State authorities announced their own investigation into the incident, which has heightened tensions between federal and local officials. Organizers reported plans for more than 1,000 events across the country this weekend, demanding a halt to large-scale ICE deployments, particularly in cities governed by Democrats.
The incident occurred in Minneapolis on Wednesday when ICE agents, sent as part of what the Department of Homeland Security described as its largest operation ever, confronted Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three. Good was reportedly participating in a neighborhood patrol that monitored ICE activities when an officer shot her while she was in her car.
Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, claimed Good was interfering with officers and attempted to use her vehicle against them. The officer involved, Jonathan Ross, reportedly fired three shots at the SUV after it moved toward him. Good was killed at the scene, while Ross sustained minor injuries. Bystander video of the incident appears to show Good steering away from the officer and does not confirm any direct contact with him, contradicting claims that she ran over the agent.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the federal account as inaccurate, citing video evidence that challenges the narrative provided by ICE and the Trump administration. Civil liberties groups said the footage indicates the use of deadly force was not justified.
In response to the shooting, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, criticized the federal deployment as reckless. He placed the state National Guard on alert as federal-state tensions intensified. Minnesota and Hennepin County authorities opened a separate criminal investigation into the shooting, while federal officials insisted state prosecutors may not have jurisdiction over a federal officer, though legal experts say immunity is not guaranteed.
The Minneapolis incident follows a similar case in Portland, Oregon, where a Border Patrol agent shot and wounded a man and woman during a vehicle stop. DHS alleged the driver attempted to use the car as a weapon, while local officials, including Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, called for an independent investigation to verify the federal account.
The Minneapolis shooting drew comparisons to the killing of George Floyd, which occurred a few blocks away in 2020 and sparked nationwide racial-justice protests. The recent incident has already brought thousands of protesters to streets in Minneapolis, Portland, and other cities. Demonstrations under the banner “ICE Out For Good” are expected to continue through the weekend. Organizers include the American Civil Liberties Union, MoveOn Civic Action, Voto Latino, and Indivisible, groups that were active in anti-Trump protests during his presidency.
