Protests after ICE shooting in Minneapolis
Following the ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, protesters confronted ICE agents and shouted chants in the streets.
Tensions remained high Friday as two shootings involving immigration workers in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, drew protesters to the streets and deepened the rift between federal and state authorities.
On January 8, U.S. Border Patrol agents shot and killed two people and wounded two people in Portland. The Department of Homeland Security called the driver a suspected Venezuelan gang member who “turned the vehicle into a weapon.” Local officials called for a transparent investigation and demanded that federal agents leave the city.
The shooting occurred a day after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, in her car in Minneapolis. The incident was captured on video and sparked a fierce backlash, with protesters as well as local and state officials disputing the Trump administration’s account of the shooting.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation has announced that it has been forced to withdraw from its investigation into a fatal shooting after federal authorities withheld case materials and evidence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the state has no jurisdiction.
Protests intensified overnight, with large demonstrations in Portland, Minneapolis, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, Arizona. The Portland Police Bureau announced on January 9 that six people were arrested during protests near ICE facilities. Further demonstrations are expected over the weekend.
Several criminal justice experts have viewed footage of the Minneapolis shooting, arguing that the Trump administration acted in self-defense and that state authorities committed a reckless abuse of power.
Diane Goldstein, a former police lieutenant and executive director of the nonprofit Law Enforcement Action Partnership, called the tactics used by investigators in Minneapolis “horrifying” and “aggressive.”
“Law enforcement policy should always emphasize the use of minimal force and the protection of human life,” Goldstein told USA TODAY. She added that the footage suggested “a lack of training and understanding of what other tactics are available to de-escalate this type of situation.”
Jeffrey Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina, said a thorough investigation is needed but that the video appears to contradict the Trump administration’s version of events. “Apparently she drove away,” Alpert said. “She swerved and appeared to be trying to flee.”
Demonstrators took to the streets on Thursday, January 8, to protest federal intervention following two shootings by immigration agents.
The demonstration took place at an ICE facility in the South Portland area, which has been the site of frequent protests since last summer. The Portland Police Bureau announced that officers arrested six people on charges including disorderly conduct.
Thousands of people gathered in Minneapolis for a second night of protests. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but tensions at times escalated and federal agents used pepper spray and tear gas.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz declared January 9th a “Day of Unity” to honor Goode. The governor called on Minnesotans and people across the country to observe a moment of silence at 10 a.m. in Good’s memory.
“Now is the time to mourn together in a spirit of peace, unity and service. People across Minnesota will peacefully stand up for our shared American values,” Walz said in a statement.
The declaration encouraged neighbors, families and community members to “look out for each other in times of grief.” He also urged churches and faith groups to open their doors, community members to support local businesses and Minnesotans to participate in community service efforts.
“Now is the time to use our collective voice in defense of decency and democracy,” Walz said.
Oregon Senate Majority Leader Kayce Jama (D-Portland) also reiterated his opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“We don’t need you,” Jama said at a press conference Thursday night. “You are not welcome here. Please leave our community.”
Jama’s message came after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey made fiery comments at a press conference following the shooting of Good by an immigration officer. State and local officials are demanding that federal authorities conduct a full and transparent investigation into the shooting.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson called on ICE to suspend all operations in the city until the investigation is complete.
“We know what the federal government alleges happened here,” Wilson said at a news conference. “There was a time when you could just take them at their word. Those days are long gone.”
The shooting in Portland is the latest incident involving federal agents carrying out President Trump’s immigration crackdown across the country.
On January 7, Good was shot and killed by an immigration officer in Minneapolis. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Good “weaponized” the SUV to run over agents in an act of “domestic terrorism.” Local authorities, citing video of the incident, strongly disputed Noem’s account and called for the arrest of the officers involved.
Two people were injured in Maryland on December 24 when a driver tried to run over a federal agent during an immigration raid, federal authorities said. Investigators at the scene fired shots at the driver, who crashed the vehicle. A passenger was injured in the accident.
On September 12, 38-year-old Mexican immigrant Sillio Villegas Gonzalez was shot and killed by federal agents in a Chicago suburb. Homeland Security officials say the man resisted arrest and dragged the officer with his car. Video evidence from the scene shows an agent describing his injuries as “nothing serious.” Villegas Gonzalez’s lawyers called for a thorough investigation into the shooting.
— Michael Loria
The immigration officer involved in this week’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis is the same one injured in another vehicle accident in June 2025. He is identified in court documents as Jonathan Ross of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Officials declined to identify Ross by name, but said he had at least 10 years of experience as an ICE agent and was part of the agency’s special response team. Vice President J.D. Vance said at the White House that this week’s shooting was a repeat of an earlier incident that left the agent hospitalized.
“That ICE officer was dragged by a car six months ago and got 30 stitches in his leg and almost lost his life, so he’s a little more sensitive to being hit by a car,” Vance said at the White House on January 8. The vice president did not mention Ross by name at the press conference. Click here for details.
— Nick Penzenstadler
