Another set of demonstrations were scheduled for Friday in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a local woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer amid the Trump administration’s recent immigration crackdown in a major city. This occurred a day after federal immigration officers injured two individuals in Portland, Ore.
On Thursday night, hundreds of protesters braved freezing rain as they marched down a main street in Minneapolis to protest the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, chanting “ICE out now!” and displaying signs that read “Killer ICE off our streets.” The day began with a lively protest outside a federal facility acting as a central point for the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, where authorities set up barricades on Friday.
Simultaneously, city workers cleared makeshift barricades made of old Christmas trees and other debris that obstructed the streets near the spot where Good was shot by the ICE officer while attempting to flee. City officials indicated they would permit a makeshift memorial for the 37-year-old mother of three to remain in place.
In Portland, Ore., the shooting took place outside a hospital on Thursday afternoon. The victims, identified as Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras from Venezuela, were shot inside a vehicle, with their conditions remaining unknown. The FBI and Oregon Department of Justice initiated an investigation.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council urged ICE to halt all operations in the city until a thorough investigation is conducted, as hundreds of protesters gathered Thursday night at a local ICE building.
In response to the incidents in both cities, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security defended the actions of the officers, claiming the ICE agent in Portland acted in self-defence against a Venezuelan man with alleged gang connections who attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon. The department stated it was unclear if the shootings were captured on video, unlike the shooting involving Good which was recorded.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, along with President Donald Trump and other administration officials, maintained that the Minneapolis shooting was an act of self-defence and portrayed Good as the aggressor, alleging she used her vehicle as a weapon against the officer who shot her.
Vice-President JD Vance supported the officer’s actions, asserting that the shooting was justified and suggesting that Good’s actions led to her tragic death. However, state and local authorities, as well as protesters, disputed this narrative, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stating that video evidence refuted the self-defence claim.
Education Minnesota and union leaders from schools across the state held a news conference on Friday, urging ICE to refrain from approaching schools. Education Minnesota president Monica Byron highlighted instances of ICE agents surveilling school premises in Roseville and students in other cities like St. Cloud, St. James, and Rochester expressing fear of attending school due to potential harassment or violence.
The fatal shooting in Minneapolis occurred on the second day of the Twin Cities immigration enforcement operation, described as the largest ever by Homeland Security, involving over 2,000 officers and resulting in more than 1,500 arrests, according to Noem.
The shooting sparked immediate public outcry in a city already reeling from the killing of George Floyd in 2020, prompting hundreds to gather at the scene to express their anger towards the ICE officers. As a precautionary measure, the school district canceled classes for the remainder of the week.
Good’s death, one of several linked to immigration enforcement actions under the Trump administration, resonated beyond Minneapolis, with protests occurring or anticipated in major cities across the U.S. this week.
The Minnesota agency overseeing officer-involved shootings stated that the FBI and U.S. Justice Department declined to collaborate with them, effectively eliminating the state’s role in determining potential criminal acts. The state authorities emphasized the lack of access to crucial evidence and information necessary for a comprehensive investigation.
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging a thorough and impartial investigation into the Minneapolis shooting in cooperation with state and local entities.
The Hennepin County district attorney invited the public to submit any relevant video or evidence concerning Good’s shooting to her office for review. Although federal officials did not disclose the agent’s identity, details provided by Vance and Noem aligned closely with court documents related to a previous incident involving an ICE officer in Bloomington.