WASHINGTON (AP) – The brothers of Renee Good, who was among two U.S. citizens killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, voiced their concerns to Congress about the violence resulting from immigration operations. During a congressional hearing on February 3, 2026, they stressed that the troubling events unfolding on American streets are “changing many lives, including ours, forever.”
Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, tragically lost her life on January 7, 2026. Her death, along with that of Alex Pretti, a fellow protester killed shortly thereafter, has ignited outrage across the nation and sparked renewed calls for stricter regulations of immigration enforcement practices.
Brothers Luke and Brett Ganger addressed the hearing organized by Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, and Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California. Their aim was to shed light on the excessive use-of-force incidents involving officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the context of arrests and deportations of immigrants. The atmosphere in the room was heavy with grief as the brothers spoke, often providing comfort to one another while they shared their thoughts and listened to the testimonies of others.
Expressing the “deep distress” their family has endured due to their sister’s violent and unnecessary death, Luke Ganger did not lay out specific demands for Congress. Instead, he portrayed his sister’s death as a pivotal moment that should provoke changes in the operations being conducted in Minneapolis. “The completely surreal scenes taking place on the streets of Minneapolis are beyond explanation. This is not just a bad day, or a rough week, or isolated incidents,” he stated. “These encounters with federal agents are changing the community and changing many lives, including ours, forever.”
The forum also included testimonies from other U.S. citizens who detailed their encounters with DHS officers. The brothers refrained from delving into the specific circumstances surrounding their sister’s death or addressing the Trump administration's claims, which suggest that she attempted to run over an officer with her vehicle. This assertion has been disputed by local officials and protesters in Minneapolis, who have criticized the characterization of the events surrounding her death.
In a poignant moment, Luke Ganger emphasized the significance of sharing the essence of their sister with those present. He described her as “a beautiful American—a sister, a daughter, a mother, a partner, and a friend.” Brett Ganger followed with an excerpt from the eulogy he had written for their sister’s funeral. He likened her to dandelions, which flourish and bring beauty in unexpected places. He spoke of her unwavering optimism: “She believed tomorrow could be better than today. She believed that kindness mattered. And she lived that belief.”
The brothers’ heartfelt remarks served to underscore the human cost of policies concerning immigration enforcement, a sentiment echoed by others who participated in the hearing. The testimonies shed light on the broader impact of DHS operations and the pressing need for accountability and reform within immigration enforcement practices.
