Minneapolis leaders condemned the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by a federal immigration officer during a sweeping enforcement surge, as Washington officials defended the agent’s actions and labeled the incident “domestic terrorism.” The killing, captured on video and shared widely online, has intensified protests and political recriminations across Minnesota.
Gov. Tim Walz called the Trump administration a “propaganda machine” over its characterization of the encounter and pledged a “full, fair and expeditious” state investigation. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the footage undercuts federal claims that the officer fired in self-defense, calling the government’s account a “garbage narrative” and urging Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave the city.
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Authorities identified the woman as Renee Nicole Good. The Minnesota City Council said she had been out “caring for her neighbours” before she was killed. Good’s mother told the Star Tribune her daughter was compassionate and not the type to confront federal agents.
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE officers were responding to a vehicle stuck in snow when they were harassed by a “mob of agitators.” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Good followed agents throughout the day, blocked a vehicle and “attempted to run a law enforcement officer over,” characterizing the act as domestic terrorism and saying the FBI is investigating. State officials said they will conduct their own probe.
Video posted online shows a maroon Honda SUV partially blocking a residential street. As two officers approach on foot and one grabs the driver’s door, the vehicle reverses briefly. A third agent moves in front of the SUV from the passenger side. The driver then steers right, appearing to try to pull away; the agent in front draws his weapon, steps back and fires as the SUV’s left front bumper comes close to his legs. He fires three times, with at least one shot after the bumper had passed. The vehicle then accelerates into parked cars and a pole. It was not clear from the video whether the car struck the officer, who remained on his feet.
Noem said the officer was experienced, “followed his training,” and was treated and released at a hospital. Former President Donald Trump posted on social media that the video shows Good “ran over the ICE Officer,” describing the shooting as self-defense.
As night fell, hundreds gathered for a vigil near the scene in the Central neighborhood, lighting candles and chanting Good’s name. Earlier, federal agents in gas masks deployed chemical irritants as some protesters faced off with officers. Demonstrations were reported in other U.S. cities.
Walz said he has placed the Minnesota National Guard on alert for possible deployment if needed to keep order. “What we are seeing is the consequences of governance designed to generate fear, headlines and conflict,” he said. “Today that recklessness cost someone their life.”
DHS has described the Minnesota surge as the largest in the department’s history, with 2,000 officers deployed to arrest “fraudsters, murderers, rapists, and gang members.” Noem said authorities have made 1,500 arrests in recent weeks. The operation follows years of investigations into alleged wide-scale welfare fraud connected to nonprofit groups in the Somali community that administer child care and social services. At least 56 people have pleaded guilty since federal prosecutors began bringing charges in 2022 under then-President Joe Biden.
Minneapolis officials stressed that Good was not a target of immigration operations. A witness who lives nearby said she was a resident of the area. The City Council and Mayor Frey demanded that ICE leave the city immediately and urged residents to remain calm as investigations proceed.
Immigration advocates warned that escalated enforcement tactics risk more confrontations. A Boston-based immigration attorney said on Irish broadcaster RTÉ that the shooting was an incident “waiting to happen,” arguing that the administration’s approach has sown fear and instability.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension typically investigates officer-involved shootings in the state. Neither DHS nor state officials released the names of the agents involved. No timetable for findings was announced.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
