Minneapolis Tense After Deadly ICE Shooting As National Guard Staged, Federal Presence Surges

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has authorized the National Guard to be staged and ready in Minneapolis following a fatal shooting by a federal immigration agent, as federal authorities consolidate control over the investigation and a massive ICE presence continues across the Twin Cities.

Walz announced Thursday that the Guard remains on standby “out of an abundance of caution” and in coordination with local officials, citing the need to protect critical infrastructure, support public safety, and allow for peaceful demonstrations.

The move follows the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, during an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Portland Avenue in south Minneapolis.

The shooting occurred against the backdrop of what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has described as its largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out in Minnesota.

Also read: Community Raises Over $680K For 6-Year-Old Of Renee Nicole Good After ICE Shooting

Fatal Shooting And Shooter Identified

Good was shot and killed during an encounter with ICE agents while driving her Honda Pilot. Video recorded by bystanders shows ICE officers surrounding her vehicle, demanding she open the door and grabbing the handle.

As the vehicle began to move forward, an officer positioned in front of the SUV drew his weapon and fired at least two shots at close range. The vehicle later crashed into parked cars.

Federal authorities later identified the agent who fired the shots as Jonathan Ross.

Court records cited by the Minnesota Star Tribune show Ross was injured during a separate 2025 arrest in Bloomington involving a fleeing driver. In that incident, Ross was dragged roughly 300 feet alongside a vehicle and required multiple stitches to his arm and hand. A jury later convicted the driver of assaulting a federal officer.

Largest DHS Deployment In State History

Hours before the shooting, federal officials confirmed that roughly 2,000 federal agents and officers were being deployed to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area as part of a major Homeland Security operation.

That figure nearly doubles the combined sworn police forces of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Homeland Security officials said the operation is focused in part on fraud investigations, including human smuggling and unlawful employment practices, while deportation officers carry out immigration enforcement actions. Specialized tactical units are also involved.

Immigrant advocacy groups and local officials reported a spike in sightings of federal agents across the Twin Cities in the days leading up to the shooting, including traffic stops and enforcement activity near apartment buildings and businesses.

National Guard Staged, State Patrol Mobilized

Under Executive Order 26-01, Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to be staged and ready to assist local and state law enforcement if requested. The order allows Guard personnel to protect property and critical infrastructure and to serve in a support role during periods of unrest or large demonstrations.

The Minnesota State Patrol has also mobilized 85 members of its Mobile Response Team to support law enforcement efforts in the Twin Cities.

Walz emphasized that protests following the shooting have largely remained peaceful.

“Minnesotans have met this moment,” Walz said. “Thousands of people have peacefully made their voices heard. We have every reason to believe that peace will hold.”

State Investigators Removed From Case

Tensions have escalated further after federal authorities removed Minnesota’s top state investigators from the shooting investigation..

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was initially asked to conduct a joint investigation with the FBI. Later that same day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reversed course and directed that the investigation be handled solely by federal authorities, cutting off the BCA’s access to evidence, interviews, and case materials.

“As a result, the BCA has reluctantly withdrawn from the investigation,” Superintendent Drew Evans said.

The BCA’s Force Investigations Unit was created in 2020 to provide independent investigations of deadly force incidents involving law enforcement.

Federal Immunity Claims Disputed

The investigation shift followed remarks by Vice President JD Vance, who said the ICE agent involved in the shooting was protected by “absolute immunity” because the incident occurred during a federal law enforcement action.

Legal experts disputed that claim, noting that federal officers do not automatically receive blanket immunity from criminal prosecution and can still face charges if they act unlawfully or outside their authority.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has said it retains jurisdiction but that charging decisions would come later, if at all.

Barriers Removed

In the aftermath of the shooting, Minneapolis officials removed makeshift street barriers near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue, citing emergency access concerns for fire and medical responders.

City officials said blocked streets posed a risk to public safety, particularly after crews had recently responded to a separate three-alarm fire nearby. Memorials created by community members at the shooting site were allowed to remain intact.

Officials urged residents to continue gathering peacefully while keeping streets open for emergency access.

Community Impact

City officials said the shooting, combined with the unprecedented federal immigration presence, has created fear and confusion across Minneapolis, particularly in immigrant and refugee communities.

Minneapolis issued new guidance explaining what residents should do if they encounter ICE officers, when to call 911 or 311, and what Minneapolis police officers can and cannot do under the city’s separation ordinance.

The city also removed makeshift street barriers near the shooting site, citing emergency access concerns, while allowing community memorials honoring Good to remain intact.

Good’s family and supporters have held vigils and protests, while community fundraising efforts have been launched to support her youngest child, a 6-year-old boy whose father died in 2023.

Officials said the situation remains fluid as federal enforcement activity continues and urged residents to stay informed, remain peaceful, and prioritize safety.