Executive summary: Thousands of protesters marched in Minneapolis and across the United States against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, following the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent. Dozens were arrested, and a police officer was injured during the demonstrations.
On January 10, 2026, despite sub-zero temperatures, thousands of people gathered in Minneapolis’s Powderhorn Park, just blocks from where Renee Nicole Good was shot. The crowd, estimated in the thousands, marched through the snowy streets, chanting slogans like ‘ICE out’ and demanding an end to immigration enforcement activities. Similar protests were held in numerous other cities, including New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, and Los Angeles, as part of a coordinated nationwide response organized by groups such as Indivisible.
The protests were directly sparked by the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on Wednesday. The Trump administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has claimed the agent acted in self-defence, stating that Good was attempting to run over the officer. However, local officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have strongly disputed this narrative, asserting that Good posed no danger and was trying to leave the scene, with Frey calling the self-defence claims ‘bullshit.’
During the Minneapolis protests, police reported that ‘well over 1,000’ demonstrators participated, with some individuals engaging in violence. Approximately 30 people were arrested, primarily after a protest outside the Canopy Hotel, where ICE agents were believed to be staying. Protesters threw ice, snow, and rocks at officers, police vehicles, and other property, resulting in one police officer sustaining minor injuries from a chunk of ice; the officer did not require medical attention, according to CBS News.
Political reactions have been sharply divided. Mayor Frey applauded the majority of protesters for being peaceful but warned that those causing damage or endangering others would face arrest. On Saturday, three Democratic congresswomen from Minnesota—Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig—attempted to tour an ICE facility in Minneapolis but were turned away, accusing ICE of obstructing congressional oversight and violating federal law.
The incident has escalated broader tensions over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, which has seen thousands of federal agents deployed to Democratic-led cities. Critics, including former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske, have condemned the lack of accountability and training among ICE agents, comparing the shooting to historic events like the Kent State shootings and stating that agents are ‘ill-trained’ for urban environments.
Investigations into the shooting are ongoing but fraught with conflict. The FBI is conducting a federal probe, but Minnesota state and Hennepin County officials have opened their own criminal inquiry after being excluded from the federal investigation. This rift highlights the deepening divide between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement tactics, with Minnesota officials calling for transparent, independent investigations.
Public sentiment among protesters reflects widespread anger and frustration, with many describing ICE operations as ‘un-American’ and calling for an end to systematic abuse of power. As investigations continue and protests persist, the events in Minneapolis have become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration policy, with implications for public trust, law enforcement practices, and political dynamics moving forward.
