Minneapolis is running out of shock. That may be the most alarming sign of all. In the span of a week, the city has seen two fatal shootings involving federal agents: the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37‑year‑old Minneapolis mother, and, it was followed by the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant man during an ICE‑linked enforcement action in North Minneapolis. Witnesses reported agents chasing the man through a street before shots were fired. Community members gathered within minutes, demanding answers and accountability. As always, official Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement only said the officer “felt threatened by a broom and a snow shovel.”
These incidents unfolded against the backdrop of intensifying and terrifying ICE intimidations, where hundreds of protests have been held all over the Twin Cities area, always peaceful. On January 14th, the demonstration escalated after federal agents deployed tear gas and flash‑bangs; protesters responded with fireworks. Minnesota State Patrol and DNR officers made multiple arrests. Minneapolis has been here before, but something about this moment feels different.
The scale of the federal presence is unprecedented. According to DHS, roughly 3,000 federal agents — ICE, Border Patrol, tactical units — are currently deployed across Minnesota. Minneapolis, by comparison, has about 600 police officers. The imbalance is not symbolic. It is structural. And the federal government’s handling of the Good investigation has only deepened mistrust. The FBI has taken exclusive control of the case, blocking the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from reviewing evidence. Governor Tim Walz has publicly questioned whether a fair outcome is even possible under these conditions…