MINNEAPOLIS: A US immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday, according to local and federal officials, triggering widespread protests and intensifying political tensions over President Donald Trump’s nationwide immigration crackdown.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey strongly rejected claims by the Trump administration that the shooting was an act of self-defense, saying video footage of the incident contradicts the federal government’s account.
“They’re already trying to spin this as self-defense,” Frey said at a press conference. “Having seen the video myself, that narrative is simply not true.”
The Minnesota City Council identified the victim as Renee Nicole Good, describing her as a community-oriented resident who was “out caring for her neighbors” when she was killed. The council demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immediately withdraw from the city.
As night fell, thousands of people gathered at the shooting site in a residential neighborhood, holding candles and chanting slogans. Earlier in the day, some demonstrators were confronted by heavily armed federal agents wearing gas masks, who deployed chemical irritants to disperse the crowd.
Conflicting Accounts of the Shooting
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said ICE officers were responding to a vehicle stuck in snow when they were confronted by what she described as a “mob of agitators.” She alleged that Good blocked the officers’ vehicle, refused orders to move, and attempted to run over an agent.
“She weaponized her vehicle,” Noem said, characterizing the incident as domestic terrorism and confirming that the FBI was investigating. State officials said they would conduct a separate inquiry.
However, video footage verified by Reuters has raised questions about that account. The footage shows officers approaching Good’s vehicle after she appeared to stop and gesture for other cars to pass. As agents moved toward the car, it briefly reversed and then attempted to drive away. An officer fired three shots, including at least one after the vehicle had passed him. It remains unclear whether the car made contact with the officer.
After the shooting, the vehicle crashed into parked cars and a utility pole. The officer involved was treated at a hospital and later released.
Political Fallout and Public Outrage
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz blamed the Trump administration for escalating tensions and said the National Guard had been placed on alert.
“What we are seeing is the result of governance built on fear and confrontation,” Walz said. “Today, that recklessness cost someone their life.”
Trump, in a social media post, defended the agent’s actions, claiming the video showed the woman “violently” striking the officer. The competing narratives have further highlighted deep political polarization across the United States.
Good’s mother described her daughter as “extremely compassionate” and said she was not someone who would confront law enforcement. Local officials said Good was not a target of immigration enforcement and lived in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred.
The Department of Homeland Security said it has deployed 2,000 officers to Minnesota as part of what it calls its largest-ever operation, aimed at arresting individuals accused of serious crimes. Authorities said more than 1,500 arrests have been made in recent weeks.
Opponents of Trump called for protests in multiple US cities, warning that the Minneapolis shooting could become a national flashpoint in the debate over immigration enforcement and federal policing.