Widespread protests in Minneapolis and demonstrations across the U.S. followed the fatal shooting of anti-ICE activist Renee Nicole Good during a confrontation with an ICE agent. The administration said the agent fired in self-defense after Good allegedly attempted to run him over; investigators are continuing to review the case.
Leading Democrats responded with sharp condemnation. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted on X that “last night, at the corner where an ICE agent murdered Renee Good, thousands of Minnesotans gathered in the frigid dark to protest her killing,” and called for solidarity in the face of what she described as “lawless violence.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Rep. Ilhan Omar also urged federal immigration authorities to leave the city, while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the National Guard stood ready if needed.
Demonstrators carry a banner during an 'I Can't Breathe' Silent March For Justice in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., on Sunday, March 7, 2021.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, said attempts by the left to frame the killing as “George Floyd 2.0” have not taken hold. Ries pointed to changes since 2020 — reduced trust in mainstream media, more independent reporting and broader public scrutiny of protest-era narratives — as reasons the comparison is proving less resonant.
“This isn't 2020 anymore ... People can see what's really happening and decide for themselves, not just take mainstream media's word for it,” Ries said.
Ries and other conservative commentators also highlighted additional video and context that they say undercuts an immediate comparison to past policing controversies. They cite a previously reported incident in which the same ICE agent was allegedly dragged by a vehicle months earlier and required hospital treatment, which some say may help explain the agent’s reactions during the confrontation.
Law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting involving an ICE agent, Wednesday, in Minneapolis.
Senator J.D. Vance noted at a Thursday news conference that the officer had reportedly been dragged about six months earlier and required stitches, suggesting that prior trauma could have affected the officer’s response.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and other critics argued the episode reflects a politically charged focus on ICE, saying the agency’s immigration enforcement actions have become a central target for the left. Bondi disputed portrayals of Good as an innocent bystander, saying there are accounts that she had followed or confronted ICE agents earlier in the day and did not comply when asked to exit her vehicle.
Supporters of Good and many protesters reject the administration’s account and have demanded a full and transparent investigation into the shooting. Law enforcement officials and local leaders have emphasized that the incident is under active review and that video evidence is being examined.
What’s next: Investigations by federal and local authorities are ongoing. Observers from across the political spectrum say additional video, witness statements and forensic evidence will be critical to understanding what occurred and whether use of force was justified.
