Minnesotans Shadow ICE After ICE Agent Kills U.S. Citizen Renee Good
Key Takeaways
- Federal ICE agent fatally shot Minnesota resident Renee Good during an enforcement operation
- ICE agents detained five‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, prompting 'used as bait' allegations
- Thousands of Minnesotans mobilized: shadowing ICE operations, mass protests, clergy arrests, and business closures
Minnesota ICE monitoring surge
Thousands of Minnesotans have begun shadowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and volunteering to monitor federal immigration activity after the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good by an ICE agent.
“This is a catalog of ABC News and related podcast/TV episodes from 2022 through Jan”
Organizers say the movement has overwhelmed volunteer trainers despite widespread safety fears.
Volunteers such as Fabiola, a naturalized U.S. citizen and single mother, say they are 'scared' but have joined the movement to monitor ICE.
News outlets note a surge in observers and increased demand for training following Good's killing.
Local and national reporting describe protests and solidarity actions, including calls to skip work and school, illustrating grassroots monitoring efforts and broader civic mobilization across the Twin Cities.
Volunteer response after killing
Volunteer groups report demand for training surged after the killing.
Multiple organisations now offer instruction on documenting enforcement, warning community members, and staying safe.
Trainers and volunteers emphasize distancing and non-confrontation, while some volunteers take extra precautions like carrying whistles or teaching children to recognize federal uniforms.
en.bd-pratidin says at least five groups now train volunteers and that online sessions sometimes reach a 1,000-person capacity.
The South China Morning Post similarly reports volunteers and activists are overwhelmed by the influx.
Local TV (wgntv) and other outlets note clashes between federal officers and community members, highlighting the tensions volunteers face when monitoring operations.
Minnesota deployment debate
The volunteer surge follows a high-profile federal deployment to Minnesota - roughly 3,000 immigration enforcement officials under the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge - which has itself become the center of national debate.
“DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said ICE did not target the child—officers arrested the father while one agent stayed with the child for safety—and that parents can either leave with their children or have them placed with someone they choose”
South China Morning Post and multiple outlets report the deployment figure and link it to the intensifying protests; Sky News Australia and The Straits Times cite President Trump defending the deployment and urging authorities to "let our ICE patriots do their job," while state leaders such as Governor Tim Walz condemned the operation and demanded an investigation or withdrawal.
Coverage diverges sharply between outlets relaying federal framing of the operation as targeting violent criminals and those emphasizing local officials' charges of excessive force and community harm.
Shootings and disputed accounts
The killings tied to the federal operation have deepened mistrust: less than three weeks after Renee Good’s death, another shooting during the surge left 37-year-old Alex Pretti dead, intensifying protests and raising questions about federal tactics.
Tempo.co English and Geo News report that family members and bystander video suggest footage shows officers wrestling the man before multiple shots were fired, while federal authorities, including DHS, say a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defense after the man allegedly approached with a firearm.
State officials and family members dispute the administration’s account and have demanded state-led investigations, arguing that video and witness statements contradict claims that the victim posed an imminent threat.
Backlash to ICE operation
The incidents produced a fierce political and civic backlash, with clergy and activists staging mass actions at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul airport and downtown.
“About 100 clergy were arrested at Minneapolis–St”
Hundreds of businesses closed in solidarity.
State leaders called for a federal withdrawal and an independent review even as the White House and federal officials defended the surge.
Media outlets reported specific actions and reactions: CBC and AP noted clergy kneeling and arrests at the airport; CNA and The Straits Times described broad business closures and solidarity actions; and The Guardian and DW reported legal challenges and demands for evidence sharing.
President Trump and Vice‑President J.D. Vance publicly defended ICE and blamed local leaders, while Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanded the operation end and called for investigations.
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