Renee Good, a 37-year-old mom of three, unfortunately lost her life on January 7 in Minneapolis. One of her killers was an ICE agent who shot her during a federal enforcement operation to drive out undocumented immigrants. The incident, which occurred during a raid targeting undocumented immigrants, has ignited widespread protests and ongoing political discourse surrounding law enforcement practices and immigration policies.
Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who opened fire on Good, fired anywhere from 9 to 40 shots at Good, and claimed self-defense. The Trump administration defended Ross’s actions, claiming that Good tried to run her car into him and other officers. In an official statement, officials said that Ross had internal bleeding after being hit by Good’s car.
What has angered people the most surrounding the circumstances of Good’s death. Scores have disputed the narrative peddled by the Trump administration painting a picture of an innocent bystander provoking police, leading to the shooting. Niall Stanage remarked on the situation, asking, “How does that equate to them doing everything correctly?” He further asserted that “Because an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed her unjustifiably.”
The brutal incident was caught on tape, fueling national outrage and cries for justice and accountability. Protests soon followed nationwide after Good’s killing, with demonstrators calling out ICE and demanding reform and/or abolishment. Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz urged President Donald Trump to “turn the temperature down” amidst rising tensions following the shooting of another individual during an enforcement operation.
Civil libertarians decried the long-term impacts of Good’s fatality, urging systemic change. They highlighted some shocking numbers, such as the fact that 32 people have died in ICE custody and that ICE has detained 170 U.S. citizens. The heartbreaking tragedy has raised alarm about the agency’s practices and the risks of causing abuses of power.
Kristi Noem went full TPA on Good, even going so far as to call her “domestic terrorism.” So many critics were rightfully concerned with her framing of the narrative. Furthermore, President Trump inaccurately claimed in an interview that Good “ran him over,” a statement that has drawn significant backlash for its misleading portrayal of the events.
The political debate surrounding Good’s killing seems to be ever-evolving. As you would expect, each of these factions are now taking to their soapboxes to attack or defend law enforcement’s actions. Karoline Leavitt criticized media coverage of the incident, stating, “OK, so you’re a biased reporter with a leftwing opinion … Because you’re a leftwing hack.” She emphasized the need for media to “report on the facts.” Relatedly, she was critical of whether reporters accurately and thoroughly researched the cases they covered.
The protests in response to Good’s death have only increased demands for accountability within ICE and for more oversight of immigration enforcement activities overall. Activists say cases like this show the underlying issues with police run deep. They cite these harms, birds-eye view racial profiling and the overuse of force.