On Wednesday, January 7th, a 37-year-old woman was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis.
Authorities identified the driver as Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen. She lived in Minneapolis with her wife, Rebecca Good, and had a 6-year-old child. Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara commented that there was “nothing to indicate that this woman was the target of any law enforcement investigation.”
Many online are weighing in with reactions to this incident, partly due to the availability of online videos that capture the event. In the many videos circulating social media, a truck with flashing lights approaches a maroon Honda Pilot. When the truck stops, ICE agents emerge. The agents surround the car and tell Good to get out, with one agent trying to open her side door and reach through the window of the car. Another agent steps in front of the Honda.
The Honda begins to move ahead, pulling to the right, apparently attempting to leave. The agent in front of the vehicle steps out of its path, and as Good is driving away, that agent pulls out a gun and fires at her. He continues to shoot as Good continues to move past him, and the vehicle accelerates, crashing. The agent who fired approaches the vehicle, then walks away and tells other agents to call 911.
Officials haven’t been able to agree about the details of the shooting. Federal officials have defended the use of force, asserting that the agent acted in “self defense.” Local officials have described the situation as avoidable, describing the notion that the shooter was acting in self defense as “propaganda.”
Federal immigration officers have described their recent presence in Minnesota as their “largest operation to date.” Originally, the immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis was just focused on Somalis with final deportation orders. This week, federal authorities said that they would increase their presence in the Minneapolis region.
“To Ice, get the f*** out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here,” commented Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite.”
