By Harshit
MINNEAPOLIS, JANUARY 11, 2026 —
Nationwide outrage over the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman shot by an agent of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, spilled into streets across the United States on Saturday, as protesters demanded justice for Good and the removal of federal immigration authorities from their communities.
In Minneapolis, snow flurries fell as thousands gathered in parks, residential streets, and outside federal buildings, chanting Good’s name and holding signs condemning federal enforcement tactics. Her death has become a focal point of national anger over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown and the expanding role of federal agents in American cities.
Similar demonstrations unfolded in Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, Boston, and El Paso, among dozens of others. Organizers said more than 1,000 protests were planned nationwide under the banner of the “ICE Out for Good” coalition.
Minneapolis at the Center of Anger
Saturday’s demonstrations in Minneapolis began at Powderhorn Park, a historic site of protest and a central gathering place during the 2020 unrest following the killing of George Floyd. From there, thousands marched through nearby neighborhoods before converging on the street where Good was fatally shot Wednesday morning.
As temperatures hovered near 20 degrees Fahrenheit, demonstrators shared blankets and hot drinks, holding placards reading “ICE will melt” and “It’s not very pro-life to kill our neighbors.” Repeated chants of Good’s name echoed through the park and surrounding streets.
Good, a mother of three, was shot while sitting in her vehicle during an ICE operation. Federal officials say the agent fired in self-defense after Good allegedly tried to run him over, a claim disputed by city and state leaders. The FBI has taken over the investigation.
Clashes and Arrests Near Federal Buildings
Elsewhere in Minneapolis, tensions escalated outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, where agents fired pepper balls at a smaller group of protesters. According to CNN reporters at the scene, demonstrations near the federal facility have been more confrontational than those elsewhere in the city, as protesters gathered directly across from ICE agents.
On Friday night, during a downtown protest of roughly 1,000 people, some individuals broke away from the crowd and vandalized a hotel where demonstrators believed federal agents were staying. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said more than 200 officers and state troopers responded, detaining 29 people who were later cited and released. One officer suffered minor injuries.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said most demonstrators acted peacefully but warned that property damage and violence would not be tolerated. “We cannot take the bait,” Frey said. “We will not counter chaos with chaos.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz echoed that message while sharply criticizing federal authorities. “Trump sent thousands of armed federal officers into our state, and it took just one day for them to kill someone,” Walz wrote on social media. “Don’t give him what he wants.”
Protests Spread Nationwide
Large crowds gathered in major cities across the country. In Los Angeles, demonstrators marched through downtown holding signs reading “ICE Out for Good” and chanting “Trump must go now.” Later, police issued dispersal orders near a cluster of federal buildings, citing vandalism. The LAPD said several arrests were made, including one for battery on a police officer.
In Washington, DC, protesters marched in steady rain near the White House, calling for state-level oversight of ICE. In Philadelphia, Boston, Denver, Portland, Austin, and Tempe, Arizona, demonstrators held vigils, blocked intersections, and lined bridges overlooking highways.
“I’m deeply concerned about the lives of American citizens being endangered by a government that has gone beyond its law enforcement responsibilities,” said Jack McCarty, a Minnesota native protesting in Washington. He called for independent oversight of ICE at the state level to prevent future deaths.
Growing Scrutiny of Federal Enforcement
The protests come amid an escalating political and legal dispute over transparency and accountability. Minnesota Democrats, including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison, said they were blocked from conducting an oversight visit to a Minneapolis immigration facility on Saturday, despite a recent court ruling temporarily allowing such visits.
Civil rights groups say Good’s killing is part of a broader pattern of aggressive tactics by federal immigration agents. The Department of Homeland Security has defended ICE officers, saying they face increasing threats while enforcing the law.
As investigations continue, organizers vowed that protests would persist until accountability is established.