ICE protests continue in Minneapolis day after woman is fatally shot by ICE agent
Over a thousand people march along Lake Street Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 to protest the ICE killing of Renee Good, 37, in south Minneapolis the previous day. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
At a protest Thursday in the neighborhood where an immigration officer killed Renee Nicole Good Wednesday, Omar Dasea-Torres said he joined the demonstration even though he fears for his own safety despite his legal status.
“I don’t think it’s fair what they’re doing right now, taking families,” Dasea-Torres said.
Over a thousand people joined Dasea-Torres Thursday. They walked the streets under a steady, cold rain, blocking traffic, blocks away from where Good, 37, was fatally shot Wednesday morning by a federal immigration agent who has been identified as Jonathan Ross by the Star Tribune.
Many protestors likely have vivid memories of days of demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd, less than a mile from here.
Minneapolis residents have borne the brunt of the latest wave of immigration agents — said to be 2,000 — sent to Minnesota this week by the Department of Homeland Security.
No federal or local law enforcement appeared to be present at the Thursday evening protest. Gov. Tim Walz earlier Thursday activated the Minnesota National Guard “out of an abundance of caution” to be prepared to help local law enforcement keep order.
Over a thousand people gathered at the intersection of Lake Street and Chicago Ave. to protest the ICE killing of Renee Good. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Protests have been ongoing since the shooting. Protesters gathered at the scene immediately after the shooting; later that evening, thousands gathered to mourn Good in an evening vigil and a protest against the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.
Early Thursday morning, protesters clashed with federal agents at the Whipple Building, the federal building ICE has been using. The Star Tribune reported that agents threw some protesters to the ground and detained them; one protester was detained for throwing an apple core at a squad car.
And later that morning, more than 100 multifaith religious leaders huddled around the site of the shooting, which has been turned into a memorial for Good, to make three demands: that ICE leave Minnesota; that the federal government allow state investigators access to evidence for an independent state investigation; and that Congress also investigate the shooting.
A speech written by Jovita Morales from the Minnesota Immigrant Movement opened the Thursday evening protest, which was jointly organized and publicized on social media by local chapters of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, 50501 and the Democratic Socialists of America.
“The incident in which an ICE agent took the life of our community member and a young woman demonstrates a complete lack of preparation and serious negligence. We demand justice through an investigation,” said Ivonne Hernandez, who delivered the speech on behalf of Morales.
On Wednesday, the feds kicked Minnesota criminal investigators off what was initially a joint investigation. The maneuver has drawn sharp criticism from local officials and protesters, who demanded an investigation independent from the federal government, whose top officials have already publicly drawn conclusions that contradict existing video evidence.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a press conference Wednesday that Good “weaponized her vehicle” and “attempted to run a law enforcement officer over.” A video provided to the Reformer shows an officer positioning himself in front of the vehicle and firing three shots through the windshield as Good attempted to turn the car away from the officer.
Ben Andrews wasn’t aware of the protest in advance but saw it passing by his house. Andrews said he’s been receiving neighborhood notifications of ICE presence “semi-regularly.”
“This used to be a great neighborhood. This neighborhood was going up. All this ICE sh*t doesn’t make anybody better,” Andrews said.
The protest ended just north of the barriers on Portland Ave. in between 33rd and 34th St, where the shooting occurred, leaving the growing tribute to Good at the site of her killing quiet for mourners to continue placing flowers and lighting candles.
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