This story On January 8, federal immigration agents terrorized two U.S. citizens who were employed at a Target store in Minnesota. It’s no surprise that this senseless tragedy has inspired national outrage. Only a day before this action, an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good. This fireshed incident has raised important questions about the agency’s enforcement actions and detrimental impacts on surrounding communities.
On January 7, Renee Nicole Good was killed by ICE officer Jonathan E. Ross. The next day, security guards were physically moved out of the way of two employees who tried to enter a Target store in Richfield. Witnesses captured the violent confrontation on camera. The video depicts the workers being both shoved to the ground and ultimately thrown into an unmarked black SUV.
Minnesota state representative Michael Howard shared his shock at the event, calling it “Deeply, deeply dismaying.” Like a “rampage across Minnesota,” he added, describing the actions of ICE. He recalled his conversations with both people who were arrested and their trauma of the experience during the action.
A new video has just popped up, however. It purportedly captures one of the arrested employees in a clearly upset condition at another parking lot. Since Good’s death, these killings have only become more regular. Heralding from a summer bursting with grassroots activism, many community members are advocating for the end of these emerging tensions between civilians and federal agents.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that one of the detained individuals faced charges for “assaulting federal law enforcement officers.”
“This individual was arrested for assaulting federal law enforcement officers.” – Department of Homeland Security
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has made bold, swift moves. This resulted in him filing a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Trump administration, leading him to conclude that DHS’s behavior is excessive and lethal force. Further, Ellison took the agency to task for performing what he called “warrantless, racist arrests” that contravene federal law.
“DHS’s use of excessive and lethal force, their warrantless, racist arrests, their targeting of our courts, our churches, houses of worship and schools are a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act on arbitrary and capricious federal actions,” – Keith Ellison
This picture got a lot clearer on Monday night when AG Ellison filed his lawsuit. Instead, he’s calling for an end to the aggressive enforcement tactics ICE uses across Minnesota.
“And we ask that the courts will end the surge of thousands of DHS agents in Minnesota.” – Keith Ellison
The incident has understandably left many of the community members in shock and outrage. Representative Howard urged us to bring compassion to our conversations about these tragedies. He called for people to remember who these victims are.
“If this doesn’t make your blood boil, I don’t know what will,” – Michael Howard
He further stated, “We are actively working to provide support to our community members. We are communicating with Target about their responsibility to better protect their workers and customers. We continue to call on ICE to GET OUT of Minnesota.”
Family members of Renee Nicole Good have come forward. Their advice to all of us who feel justifiably outraged by ICE’s actions is to center compassion and empathy for those most directly impacted by these tragedies. Speaking with the intention of changing the conversation, family member Jessica Fletcher underscored this need. She called on us all to remember Renee as a person, and not simply a victim.
“There’s been so much hateful rhetoric back and forth, and what’s been missed is painting a picture of who Renee was,” – Jessica Fletcher
Investigations are ongoing into the shooting death of Good and the arrest of the Target employees. At the same time, affected community members are increasingly organizing to #FightT4A and hold federal interveners accountable. The Richfield incident is part of a deeply disturbing trend. This time, it shines a light on yet another violent encounter between civilians and immigration enforcement agents.