Another series of demonstrations were scheduled for Friday in Minneapolis following the death of a local woman at the hands of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer amid the Trump administration’s recent immigration crackdown in a major urban area. This came after federal immigration officers shot and injured two individuals in Portland, Oregon.
On Thursday night, hundreds of protestors braved freezing rain in Minneapolis, marching down a prominent street to denounce the shooting of Renee Nicole Good earlier in the week. They chanted “ICE out now!” and carried signs demanding the removal of ICE from their streets. The day commenced with a passionate protest outside a federal facility serving as a focal point for immigration enforcement activities in the Twin Cities. Authorities set up barricades around the facility on Friday.
Meanwhile, city workers cleared makeshift barriers, including old Christmas trees and debris, that obstructed the area where Good was shot by the ICE officer as she attempted to flee. City officials stated that they would permit a makeshift memorial for the 37-year-old mother of three to remain at the site.
In Portland, the shooting incident occurred outside a hospital on Thursday afternoon involving a man and a woman identified as Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, both Venezuelan nationals. Their conditions remained unknown, and investigations were ongoing by the FBI and the Oregon Department of Justice.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council urged ICE to halt all operations in the city until a comprehensive investigation is concluded, as hundreds gathered for a protest outside a local ICE building on Thursday night. Early Friday, Portland police arrested several demonstrators after requesting them to clear the street for traffic flow.
Similar to the response following Good’s shooting, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security defended the actions of the officers in Portland. They claimed that the shooting was in response to a Venezuelan man with alleged gang affiliations attempting to use his vehicle as a weapon against the officers. The agency stated that the agent acted swiftly to protect themselves and others in the situation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, along with President Donald Trump and other administration officials, portrayed the Minneapolis shooting as an act of self-defense, characterizing Good as the aggressor. They alleged that she used her vehicle as a weapon to attack the officer who ultimately shot her.
Vice-President JD Vance supported the shooting, claiming it was justified and criticizing Good’s actions. However, state and local officials, along with protestors, refuted this narrative. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized that video evidence contradicted the self-defense argument presented by the authorities.
In a news conference on Friday, Education Minnesota and union leaders from schools across the state called on ICE to refrain from approaching schools. They cited instances of ICE agents monitoring school premises in Roseville, causing fear among students in various Minnesota cities.
The shooting in Minneapolis occurred during the second day of the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities, touted as the largest enforcement operation by Homeland Security. The incident triggered a swift reaction in the city that witnessed the death of George Floyd in 2020, leading to public outrage directed at ICE officers. As a precaution, the school district canceled classes for the remainder of the week.
Good’s death, one of several linked to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, reverberated beyond Minneapolis, prompting protests in major U.S. cities. The Minnesota agency responsible for investigating officer-involved shootings revealed that federal authorities declined to cooperate, leaving the state with no jurisdiction to delve into potential crimes committed during the incident.
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith urged the Department of Justice and the FBI to collaborate with local authorities for a thorough and impartial inquiry into the fatal shooting in Minneapolis. The Hennepin County district attorney solicited the public’s submission of any relevant evidence related to the shooting, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive investigation.