ICE Fatal Shootings Fuel US Protests, Calls for Accountability

Minneapolis, MN — Nationwide protests have intensified against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and related federal operations following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration agents in Minneapolis earlier this month. The incidents, part of the broader Operation Metro Surge immigration crackdown, have fueled demands for the agency’s abolition, greater oversight, and an end to aggressive enforcement tactics amid widespread fear in immigrant communities and growing scrutiny of federal agents’ use of force.

The shootings involve:

• Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, mother of three, poet, and writer, who was fatally shot on January 7, 2026, by an ICE agent identified as Jonathan Ross. Good was in her vehicle when agents surrounded her; officials initially claimed she “weaponized” her car and attempted to run over an officer in an act of domestic terrorism. However, bystander and officer-recorded videos challenged this account, showing her attempting to pull away rather than ram agents. Her death was ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
• Alex Jeffrey Pretti, also 37, a U.S. citizen and intensive care unit nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, who was shot and killed on January 24, 2026, by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, including Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and CBP officer Raymundo Gutierrez. The encounter occurred during protests against ICE operations near Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. Videos analyzed by multiple outlets show Pretti recording agents and attempting to assist someone on the ground before being tackled, pepper-sprayed, struck, restrained, and shot multiple times (at least ten in some reports), even after being on the ground. Officials claimed he posed a threat with a firearm (which he had a permit to carry openly), but evidence indicates it remained holstered and was not drawn before he was subdued. His death was also ruled a homicide.

These are among at least several fatal incidents linked to immigration enforcement in early 2026, with reports indicating multiple additional shootings (some non-fatal) and deaths in ICE custody nationwide since the start of the year. Operation Metro Surge, described by DHS as the largest such effort ever, has deployed thousands of federal agents to Minneapolis and other areas, focusing on arrests but drawing criticism for broad surveillance, street patrols in tactical gear, and encounters impacting non-criminal individuals and U.S. citizens.

Protests and Political Fallout

Hundreds of demonstrations have erupted across the country, with calls to abolish ICE, impose reforms such as mandatory body cameras (which DHS has since announced deploying to agents in Minnesota), and limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson ordered local police to investigate reports of “rogue” federal agents operating in the city. Several cities and states are considering or advancing measures to restrict ICE access and enhance oversight.

Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, have condemned the tactics as “predictable and preventable,” with protests clashing at times with agents. Nationwide actions included student walkouts, marches, and a coordinated “National Shutdown” protest day. Critics highlight a pattern where Trump administration officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan, quickly defend agents as acting in self-defense against alleged threats, only for videos and evidence to later contradict those narratives—fueling accusations of rushed justifications and eroded credibility.

The Trump administration has defended the operations as necessary to target criminal elements and “hardened criminals,” with President Trump stating the efforts are “working out” while indicating a potential de-escalation in Minnesota. Officials emphasize that agents face increased assaults and operate under strict protocols, though multiple reviews (including by Reuters, The New York Times, and PBS) have found inconsistencies in official accounts across several incidents.

Broader Implications

The events have heightened tensions in immigrant communities, prompted congressional demands for records and investigations (including from House Democrats), and contributed to standoffs in Congress over DHS funding. With body cameras now mandated in some areas and agents placed on leave in select cases, scrutiny continues over accountability in federal immigration enforcement amid the administration’s mass deportation push.

No criminal charges have been announced against the involved agents as investigations proceed, with federal jurisdiction often cited to limit state access to evidence.

This is a developing story. ClickUSAnews.com will provide updates as investigations progress and protests continue.

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