Widespread anger and protests swept across the United States on Saturday following the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis earlier in the week. The demonstrations, organized under the banner "ICE out for good," saw thousands take to the streets in cities from coast to coast, fueled by viral videos of the incident and conflicting official narratives.
The Shooting That Sparked a National Firestorm
The unrest stems from an encounter on Wednesday in south Minneapolis, where an agent from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a United States citizen. According to eyewitness accounts and videos that spread rapidly online, Good was sitting inside her car when she was shot. Minnesota state leaders were quick to condemn the act, describing it as an unjustified use of lethal force against a civilian who was attempting to leave the scene.
However, the Trump administration presented a starkly different version of events. Officials claimed that Good tried to run over the ICE agent, forcing him to act in self-defence. This contradiction between local authorities and the federal government has deepened public mistrust and amplified the outrage.
Protests Spread From Coast to Coast
By Saturday, what began as local grief in Minneapolis transformed into a coordinated national protest movement. In Minneapolis itself, despite freezing January temperatures, protesters marched through immigrant neighbourhoods, chanting against ICE. Police used tear gas near a federal building, and Governor Tim Walz placed National Guard troops on alert while condemning the shooting. The White House responded by deploying more federal agents to the city.
The protests rapidly gained momentum in other major cities:
- Portland: Demonstrators gathered by the river, holding signs that read "Abolish ICE."
- New York: Crowds stood outside ICE offices in the rain.
- Los Angeles: A group assembled near Pershing Square.
Similar rallies were reported in Houston, Austin, Boston, Washington DC, Seattle, Omaha, and several smaller towns. While city officials noted most gatherings were peaceful, 29 people were arrested in Minneapolis on Friday night after a splinter group vandalised property and refused to disperse.
Political Reactions and Calls for Action
The incident has drawn sharp reactions from political figures. In Austin, Democratic lawmaker Greg Casar addressed protesters and called for the removal of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem, who publicly defended the involved ICE agent. "We cannot wait here in despair. We cannot do nothing," Casar told the crowd.
In Minnesota, federal lawmakers including Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison accused ICE of obstructing congressional oversight. They reported being asked to leave an immigration facility shortly after entering it to investigate. The shooting has also been linked by many protesters to the Portland shooting, seen as part of a wider pattern of aggressive federal immigration enforcement.
The nationwide demonstrations underscore a deep-seated tension over immigration policies and the conduct of federal agents, turning a local tragedy into a flashpoint for national debate and demand for systemic change.
