US Immigration Agent Fatally Shoots Woman in Minneapolis, Triggering Protests
A federal immigration agent has fatally shot a woman during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, prompting protests across the city and launching multiple investigations into the incident.
Federal authorities identified the woman as Renee Nicole Good, 37. Officials said the shooting occurred during an encounter involving immigration officers on a residential street on Wednesday morning. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed it is leading an independent investigation.
What happened
According to federal officials, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement approached a vehicle that was stopped in the roadway around 10:25 local time. Authorities allege the driver attempted to flee and used the vehicle in a way that put officers at risk.
Video footage circulating online shows agents surrounding a maroon SUV as it begins to move forward. Moments later, gunshots are heard. The vehicle then veers off course and collides with a parked car.
Officials have not confirmed whether any officer was struck by the vehicle before shots were fired. The agent involved was treated for injuries and later released from hospital.
Conflicting accounts
The Donald Trump said in a social media post that an immigration officer was “viciously run over” and narrowly survived. He blamed what he called escalating hostility toward law enforcement.
City leaders offered a sharply different account. Minneapolis officials said the use of deadly force appeared excessive and raised concerns about officer conduct.
The Tim Walz called for restraint and transparency, urging the public not to accept official narratives before all facts are established. “There must be a full, fair, and independent investigation,” he said.
The Minneapolis City Council said in a statement that Good was not engaged in criminal activity and described her as a resident assisting neighbors during heightened law-enforcement activity.
Federal response and investigation
The Department of Homeland Security said the agent fired in self-defence after the woman repeatedly interfered with officers and attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon. The department said enforcement operations in Minneapolis would continue.
Investigators are reviewing body-camera footage, surveillance video, and eyewitness accounts. The FBI said findings will be shared publicly once the review is complete.
Protests and community reaction
Demonstrations erupted within hours of the shooting, with residents gathering near the scene and in other parts of the city. Vigils were held overnight, and protest organisers called for the removal of federal immigration agents from Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Public Schools announced the cancellation of classes for the remainder of the week, citing safety concerns following reported enforcement activity near school grounds.
Political leaders from the Democratic Party, including Kamala Harris, criticised federal statements, warning against what they described as misleading portrayals of the incident.
Wider context
The shooting comes amid a significant expansion of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. The White House recently deployed thousands of additional agents to the region, citing allegations of welfare and benefits fraud.
The operation represents one of the largest recent concentrations of federal immigration personnel in a single US city and has drawn criticism from local officials, who say it has increased tension rather than improved public safety.
The location of the shooting is less than two miles from the site where George Floyd was killed in 2020. This event sparked global protests. It reshaped debates over policing and race in the United States.
As investigations continue, the incident has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration tactics and the use of lethal force in civilian neighborhoods.
