Another series of demonstrations were scheduled for Friday in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a local woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during the Trump administration’s recent immigration crackdown in a major city. This came after two individuals were shot and injured by federal immigration officers in Portland, Ore., the day before.
On Thursday night, hundreds of protesters marched in frigid rain in Minneapolis to denounce the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, chanting “ICE out now!” and carrying signs that read “Killer ICE off our streets.” The day commenced with a lively protest outside a federal facility serving as a focal point for the immigration enforcement efforts in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Authorities set up barricades outside the facility on Friday.
Simultaneously, city personnel removed makeshift barriers made of old Christmas trees and debris that had obstructed the streets near where Good was shot by the ICE officer as she attempted to flee. City officials announced that a makeshift memorial for the 37-year-old mother of three would be allowed to remain.
The shooting incident in Portland occurred outside a hospital on Thursday afternoon. A man and a woman, identified as Venezuela nationals Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras by the Department of Homeland Security, were shot inside a vehicle, with their conditions unknown at the time. The FBI and the Oregon Department of Justice were conducting an investigation into the matter.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council called for ICE operations in the city to be halted until a thorough investigation is completed, as hundreds gathered for protests at a local ICE building on Thursday night.
In response to the events, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stood by the actions of the officers in Portland, stating that the shooting occurred after a Venezuelan man with alleged gang affiliations, who was linked to a recent shooting, attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon against the officers. The department defended the officer’s response as an act of self-defense.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump, and other administration officials portrayed the Minneapolis shooting as an act of self-defense, portraying Good as the aggressor who purportedly used her vehicle as a weapon against the officer who shot her.
Vice-President JD Vance supported the officer’s actions, labeling Good as a “victim of left-wing ideology.” However, local officials and protesters rejected this narrative, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissing the self-defense argument as baseless based on video evidence.
Union leaders and Education Minnesota urged ICE to steer clear of schools during a news conference on Friday, citing instances of ICE agents monitoring school premises in Roseville and causing fear among students in other Minnesota cities.
Good’s death marked the fifth fatality linked to immigration enforcement actions since Trump’s presidency began, sparking protests not only in Minneapolis but also in other major U.S. cities. The Minnesota agency investigating officer-involved shootings disclosed that the FBI and U.S. Justice Department declined to collaborate, effectively excluding state involvement in determining potential criminal charges.
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the Minneapolis shooting, emphasizing the need for full cooperation with state and local authorities.
The Hennepin County district attorney solicited the public for video evidence related to Good’s shooting, while federal officials refrained from disclosing the agent’s identity. Court documents referenced by Vance and Noem aligned closely with a prior incident involving an ICE officer in Bloomington last June, as per CBC News.
Protests against the ICE shootings were anticipated in various U.S. cities, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding immigration enforcement and law enforcement practices.