A U.S. immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation, triggering protests, political fallout and sharply conflicting accounts from local and federal officials.
The woman, identified by the Minneapolis City Council as Renee Nicole Good, was killed while sitting in her car in a residential neighborhood during what the Department of Homeland Security described as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation. The shooting occurred amid what federal officials called the largest DHS operation ever conducted in Minnesota.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey forcefully rejected the Trump administration’s claim that the officer acted in self-defense, saying video footage of the incident contradicted that account. After reviewing the video, Frey accused federal authorities of spreading what he called a false narrative and blamed immigration agents for creating chaos in the city.
Minnesota officials said Good was not a target of immigration enforcement. The city council said she had been caring for neighbors earlier that day and demanded that ICE leave Minneapolis immediately.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said ICE officers encountered a hostile crowd while responding to a vehicle stuck in the snow. She alleged that Good followed agents throughout the day, blocked their vehicle and attempted to run over an officer, describing the incident as an act of domestic terrorism under investigation by the FBI. State officials said they would launch a separate inquiry.
Videos of the shooting verified by Reuters raised questions about the federal account. Footage shows officers approaching Good’s vehicle as she attempted to maneuver away. An officer standing in front of the car fired three shots as the vehicle moved forward, with at least one round fired after the car appeared to pass him. The car later crashed into parked vehicles and a utility pole. The officer remained on his feet and was later treated and released from hospital.
As night fell, thousands gathered at the scene for a vigil, lighting candles in the winter cold. Earlier, some protesters were met by heavily armed federal agents who deployed chemical irritants. Calls for demonstrations spread to other U.S. cities, raising concerns the killing could become a national flashpoint.
Good’s mother described her daughter as “extremely compassionate,” saying she was not the type to confront law enforcement. A nearby resident told media that Good lived in the neighborhood.
Democratic Governor Tim Walz blamed the Trump administration for the death, calling the operation reckless and placing the National Guard on alert. President Donald Trump, in a social media post, defended the officer’s actions, claiming the video showed Good acting violently — a claim disputed by state and city leaders.
The shooting comes amid heightened political tensions over immigration enforcement and follows a surge operation involving 2,000 officers in Minnesota. Federal authorities said 1,500 people have been arrested in recent weeks as part of the crackdown.
