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Federal ICE and Border Patrol Deployments Trigger Fatal Shootings and Nationwide Protests in Minneapolis

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ICE and Border Patrol Presence Swells in Minneapolis By mid‑January 2026 roughly 2,000 ICE agents and 800 Customs and Border Protection officers operated in the city, pushing the total federal presence to about 3,000 personnel as part of the administration’s interior‑enforcement push launched after President Trump’s 2025 inauguration [1][5]. The expansion follows a mass‑deportation agenda that recorded 605,000 deportations and 1.9 million voluntary self‑deportations between January and December 2025 [1]. Local officials sued to halt further deployments, arguing the tactics are overly aggressive and strain community relations [1][5].

Two Fatal Shootings Ignite National Outcry On Jan 7 ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37‑year‑old U.S. citizen, after she attempted to drive away; the administration claimed self‑defence while video shows the SUV moving past the officer before the first shot [1][6]. A second killing occurred on Jan 24 when Border Patrol agents shot Alex Pretti, an intensive‑care nurse, during a federal immigration operation; DHS said an armed man resisted disarmament, but the family asserts Pretti was unarmed and trying to protect a woman [2][6]. Both incidents sparked protests in Minneapolis, New York, Washington, Los Angeles and other cities, with demonstrators demanding the removal of ICE and Border Patrol from interior operations [2][1].

Federal and State Legal Battles Escalate The Justice Department issued criminal subpoenas to at least five Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, seeking records on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement [5]. Minnesota sued to block additional ICE deployments and deployed the National Guard to assist local police, while Senate Democrats announced plans to withhold DHS funding ahead of a Jan 30 deadline [2][5]. DHS policy permits deadly force only when officers reasonably believe an imminent threat of death or serious injury exists, a standard contested by local authorities and civil‑rights groups [1][6].

Officials Warn Enforcement Tactics May Worsen Former ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations leader Darius Reeves warned that interior‑enforcement tactics are ill‑suited for city environments and could lead to more violent encounters, citing coordination gaps between Border Patrol, ICE and local police [3][4]. Rapid hiring across DHS, especially within ICE, has diluted experience and morale, raising concerns about professionalism and the potential for further misuse of force [3]. Critics call for clearer rules of engagement, improved training, and stronger oversight to prevent additional fatalities [3][4].

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Timeline

Jan 2025 – President Donald Trump is inaugurated and immediately expands ICE’s mandate, launching a mass‑deportation drive that leads to 605,000 deportations and 1.9 million voluntary self‑deportations by Dec 10 2025, while ICE’s budget and authority swell dramatically[1].

June 2025 – Trump defends a hard‑line domestic response to anti‑ICE protests in Los Angeles, declaring “They spit, we hit,” signaling a confrontational stance that later frames federal enforcement actions[20].

June 2025 – An ICE officer is dragged 100 yards and suffers 50 stitches after a driver in Bloomington attempts to flee a vehicle stop, an incident the administration later cites when describing the Jan 7 2026 shooting as “self‑defense”[16].

Oct 2025 – A Pew Research Center poll finds 53 % of U.S. adults think the administration is doing “too much” on deportations, while only 36 % support the approach, highlighting growing public unease with the aggressive immigration agenda[1].

Jan 7, 2026 – ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shoots 37‑year‑old Renee Nicole Good in her car during a Minneapolis immigration sweep; federal officials claim she “weaponized” her vehicle, while local leaders say she posed no danger[24][21].

Jan 7‑8, 2026 – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labels Good’s actions “domestic terrorism” and asserts the officer acted in self‑defense; President Trump later tells Good’s father he “loves all our people” in a televised interview[5][6].

Jan 8, 2026 – Cell‑phone and Alpha News footage circulate showing an ICE officer pulling a door handle and firing as the SUV moves, becoming the central piece of evidence for multiple investigations[21][10].

Jan 8, 2026 – DHS publicly identifies Jonathan Ross as the shooter and announces a federal probe, while former ICE officials split on the justification, with one defending the use of force and another arguing it violates DHS policy[16][11].

Jan 9, 2026 – Two people are shot by CBP agents in Portland, intensifying national scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics amid the Minneapolis controversy[12].

Jan 10, 2026 – A coalition of more than 1,000 groups schedules 1,006 “ICE Out For Good” protests across the U.S. for the upcoming weekend, coordinating nationwide action against ICE’s surge[9].

Jan 10‑11, 2026 – Tens of thousands gather at Powderhorn Park and downtown Minneapolis for “ICE out of Minnesota” rallies; police report ~30 arrests and minor injuries, while the city’s mayor Jacob Frey declares the shooting “reckless” and demands ICE leave[7][24].

Jan 11, 2026 – Homeland Security Secretary Noem announces that “hundreds more” federal officers will arrive in Minneapolis to support ICE and Border Patrol operations, and Senator Tina Smith accuses the administration of a cover‑up[5][5].

Jan 12, 2026 – Protest arrests rise to 31 as demonstrations continue; the FBI confirms it is leading the criminal investigation while Minnesota officials launch a parallel state inquiry after being excluded from the federal probe[5][27].

Jan 13, 2026 – The FBI begins a formal review of whether ICE agent Ross’s use of deadly force complied with DHS policy, reconstructing the scene with digital and physical models[4].

Jan 14, 2026 – Trump delivers a personal message to Good’s father, praising his daughter as “solid, wonderful” while defending hard‑line immigration policies; a YouGov/The Economist poll shows a slight majority now favor abolishing ICE, underscoring the political fallout ahead of the 2026 midterms[6].

Jan 17, 2026 – The Justice Department opens a criminal probe into Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey for alleged obstruction of ICE operations, examining whether their public remarks constitute conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 372[3].

Jan 18, 2026 – A federal judge bars ICE agents from arresting or pepper‑spraying peaceful protesters in Minneapolis, curbing crowd‑control tactics amid escalating demonstrations[2].

Jan 18, 2026 – President Trump signals he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active‑duty troops for domestic immigration enforcement, while about 1,500 federal troops are placed on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota[2].

Jan 18, 2026 – The Justice Department announces a separate criminal probe into Walz and Frey, accusing them of attempting to impede federal immigration operations, a move the governor decries as weaponizing the justice system[2].

Jan 26, 2026 – A comprehensive ICE‑focused report notes that since Trump’s Jan 2025 return, ICE has made thousands of public arrests, deployed roughly 3,000 federal agents to Minneapolis, and faces mixed public opinion—53 % think the administration is doing “too much” on deportations—while the Good shooting continues to dominate national debate[1][1].

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