Protests erupt in America after a woman is shot dead by immigration officials in Minneapolis
Several cities across the United States are bracing for a new wave of protests and demonstrations this weekend in response to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Goode by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis. These demonstrations come amid escalating tensions stemming from conflicting jurisdictions between local and federal authorities regarding the investigation into the incident.
Details of the incident and conflicting accounts
Protest organizers said they expect more than a thousand demonstrations to express public outrage over the killing of the woman who was shot at close range by a federal officer last Wednesday. Initial reports indicate the victim was trying to flee in her car when she was shot, raising questions about engagement protocols and the use of deadly force.
In a striking development reflecting the depth of the institutional crisis, Minnesota officials sharply criticized federal agencies, accusing them of excluding local law enforcement from the investigation. A local prosecutor explained that federal investigators seized the victim's car and spent bullet casings from the scene, hindering the state's ability to conduct an independent and transparent investigation.
The political context and the debate surrounding immunity
The case has taken on complex political and legal dimensions, with the Trump administration attempting to frame the incident as a “domestic terrorism” operation, labeling the victim a “domestic terrorist.” The White House maintains its self-defense narrative, bolstered by statements from Vice President Jay D. Vance, who asserted that the immigration officer, Jonathan Ross, enjoys “absolute immunity”—a legal principle that has sparked considerable debate among human rights advocates and local prosecutors who have challenged the validity of this characterization.
Background to the tension in Minneapolis
This event is particularly sensitive because it occurred in Minneapolis, a city that has previously witnessed pivotal moments in the history of protests against police violence in the United States. It also reignites the ongoing national debates about police reform, the limits of federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operating within cities, and the extent to which their officers are subject to local legal accountability.
Video evidence and the history of the element involved
Activists circulated a video, believed to have been filmed by the officer involved, showing him approaching the victim's car and circling it, while her voice can be heard saying, "I'm not angry with you." Although the video does not directly capture the moment the shots were fired, it shows the car attempting to drive off before the sound of gunfire and the officer's swearing can be heard. In a related development, court documents revealed that Officer Jonathan Ross had been dragged by a vehicle for 91 meters in June 2025, adding further complications to the investigation into his mental state and professional history.
