Public anger erupted on the streets of Minneapolis Thursday following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, an incident that coincided with a new federal shooting in Oregon that wounded two people. These events have intensified national scrutiny of U.S. immigration enforcement operations.
Protests Erupt Amid Conflicting Narratives
Hundreds of demonstrators braved freezing rain to march down a major Minneapolis thoroughfare, chanting "ICE out now" and carrying signs that read "killer ice off our streets." The protest targeted the shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, which occurred on the second day of a major Trump administration immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described it as the largest such operation ever, involving over 2,000 officers and resulting in more than 1,500 arrests.
While federal officials, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, characterized Good's death as an act of self-defense, suggesting she used her vehicle as a weapon, local leaders and protesters vehemently rejected this. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated that video evidence renders the self-defense claim "garbage." The same day, in Portland, Oregon, a separate shooting by federal officers outside a hospital left a man and woman wounded, prompting the mayor and city council to demand ICE halt all city operations pending a full investigation.
Investigation Jurisdiction Sparks Political Battle
A significant conflict has emerged over who will investigate the Minneapolis shooting. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced that the FBI and U.S. Justice Department would not cooperate with the state, effectively barring local authorities from determining if crimes were committed. Noem asserted the state lacks jurisdiction.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz demanded state involvement, arguing it would be "very difficult for Minnesotans" to trust a federal-only investigation. He accused Noem of acting as "judge, jury and basically executioner" in her public comments. Mayor Frey echoed concerns about a potential cover-up, emphasizing the need for a check on the administration to ensure a pursuit of justice.
Details of the Deadly Encounter and the Officer Involved
Bystander videos of the Minneapolis incident show an ICE officer approaching Good's stopped SUV, demanding she open the door. As the Honda Pilot begins to pull forward, a different officer standing in front of the vehicle draws his weapon and fires at least two shots at close range. It is unclear from the footage if the vehicle made contact with the officer. After the shooting, the SUV sped into parked cars before stopping.
Records obtained by The Associated Press identify the agent who fired the fatal shots as Jonathan Ross, a 43-year-old Iraq War veteran with nearly two decades in Border Patrol and ICE. He was previously injured in June when a driver fleeing an immigration violation dragged him about 90 meters. A jury later convicted that driver of assaulting a federal officer.
The Department of Homeland Security defended the actions of officers in both Minneapolis and Portland. In the Portland case, they claimed a Venezuelan man with alleged gang ties tried to "weaponize" his vehicle against officers, though witness corroboration was pending. Good's death marks at least the fifth fatality linked to immigration sweeps since Trump took office, resonating far beyond Minneapolis and sparking planned protests in major cities across the United States.
