MINNEAPOLIS - Thousands gathered in Minneapolis on Saturday to protest the Trump administration’s deployment of federal forces following the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer earlier in the week. Attendees held signs bearing Good's image, demanding that ICE leave their city and expressing outrage over the incident.
“Nobody should be taken off the streets. Nobody should be murdered in the streets. It's irrational. It's disgusting,” said Emily Sanderson, a protester attending the demonstration. This massive protest is part of ongoing demonstrations that have engulfed the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, as they become focal points in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Following Good's fatal shooting, daily protests have erupted as local and state representatives urge for ICE to withdraw to alleviate tensions. The Trump administration has stated that the ICE officer acted in self-defense, with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirming that federal forces will remain in the area. Currently, there are approximately 2,000 officers deployed in a significant immigration operation, which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security describes as its largest to date, with more forces expected to arrive.
Despite the size of Saturday’s rally, federal forces were present nearby, conducting identity checks. Earlier on Saturday, Minnesota Democrats were reportedly denied entry into the ICE processing facility in Minneapolis. Representative Angie Craig condemned the Trump administration as “lawless,” labeling ICE as a "rogue agency" that is inciting increased violence within the community. “They are not going to remove ICE from Minnesota unless Minnesotans reach out and get through to my Republican colleagues,” she emphasized, stressing the need for bipartisan support in addressing the issue.
Representative Ilhan Omar, a prominent Somali-American politician who has faced derogatory remarks from President Donald Trump, took to social media to advocate for congressional oversight of ICE facilities. “The public deserves to know what is taking place in ICE facilities,” she stated, reinforcing the call for transparency regarding detainee conditions.
During the protest, many residents expressed feeling ensnared in a larger political conflict. Ellen Hinck, a teacher, remarked that it was unsurprising Minnesota was targeted, stating, “They are targeting blue states. They want to try and make us into what they want by using oppression. We are not going to let that happen.” Minnesota had already been a political flashpoint prior to the shooting, with Trump making multiple disparaging remarks about Governor Tim Walz and the state’s Somali population.
Another attendee, Eli Wagar-Kustermann, voiced his support for the rally by stating, “We are Minnesota strong. You will not break us. You cannot break us.” Like many protesters, he expressed concerns about the presence of federal agents in local neighborhoods, describing their actions as harassment. “We are straight up under occupation,” he asserted, recalling his experience witnessing ICE officers confronting individuals at a store prior to the rally.
This report captures the escalating tensions in Minneapolis regarding federal immigration enforcement and the community's response to the tragic shooting of Renee Good. The protests reflect a community united against perceived federal overreach and a demand for accountability and reform in ICE practices.
