Protests against ICE after ICE officer shot in Minneapolis
Protests against President Donald Trump and his wave of immigration enforcement have swept through Minneapolis over the ICE shooting of Renee Good.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was questioned during a controversial interview about her comments defending the immigration officer who shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis last week.
Noem appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Jan. 11, a day after thousands of protesters gathered across the United States to denounce the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross.
CNN’s Jake Tapper repeatedly grilled Noem over the station’s statement, which was released a little more than two hours after the shooting. The statement defended the actions of the investigators and accused Good of “domestic terrorism.”
Asked in a roughly 20-minute interview how they could reach a conclusion without a formal investigation, Noem doubled down on the department’s response, citing conversations with law enforcement officials and video footage of the shooting.
“We all watched what happened,” Noem said after Tapper challenged her interpretation of the footage. “That’s definitely what happened.”
Video of the incident, which occurred near Goode’s home in Minneapolis, was widely circulated online. They show multiple officers approaching Good’s SUV, which is parked in the middle of the road. One of the officers attempts to open the driver’s side door as someone can be heard saying, “(expletive) get out of the car.”
Ms Good, a mother of three, backed up briefly before moving forward and beginning to make a right turn. As the vehicle began to move forward, another officer standing near the front driver’s side pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots.
Good’s vehicle appeared to be turning away from the officer who fired, according to a video analysis by USA TODAY. The agent fired three shots, one into the windshield and two into the open driver’s side window of Good as he passed. All shots appear to have been fired after the agents moved out of the way.
Senior administration officials, including Noem, Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald Trump, accused Good of using the car as a weapon and claimed the agents fired in self-defense. Federal law enforcement officials said Good was driving toward Los Angeles, but at the moment the shots were fired, the wheels of Good’s car were turning to the right, away from officers.
Local and state officials in Minneapolis disputed the government’s account of the shooting, calling it “propaganda” and saying the video showed investigators “recklessly using their power, resulting in someone’s death.”
Ms. Tapper pressed Ms. Nomu about her characteristics in the interview, during which she claimed that Ms. Good had attacked ICE officers. The department’s Jan. 7 statement on social media also alleges Good tried to kill the officer with his car.
In response, Noem said, “They were violating the law by obstructing and obstructing law enforcement operations.” “They had already broken the law and the officers had received prior training and exercised sufficient caution to respond appropriately.
Asked how he was so sure of the situation just hours after the incident, Nomu did not answer directly, but said Good had “weaponized” the car and engaged in “domestic terrorism.”
“He defended himself,” Noem said of the officer who fatally shot Good three times at close range. “And he defended those around him.”
Noem also told Tapper that she would “like to form a partnership” with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and the city’s police chief, but state and city officials say they have been removed from investigators’ investigation into the use of deadly force. Noem said state authorities do not have jurisdiction over the case.
Some lawmakers called for Mr. Ross’ arrest. The officer was identified for the first time in court documents.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
