The mayor of Minneapolis has launched an extraordinary public attack on US immigration authorities after a federal agent shot and killed a woman during an immigration enforcement operation in the city.
Mayor Jacob Frey accused the Trump administration of spreading what he called a “garbage narrative” about the incident and demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “get the f*** out” of Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.
The confrontation has intensified already high tensions between Democratic-run cities and the White House, as federal immigration operations expand across major urban centres.
🚨 Deadly confrontation during immigration protest
The shooting occurred on Wednesday during a protest against federal immigration activity near 34th Street and Portland Avenue. According to Minneapolis police, ICE agents were conducting enforcement operations when Good allegedly used her vehicle to block law enforcement officers.
Federal officials claimed that Good “weaponised her vehicle” and attempted to run over officers – a characterisation Mayor Frey strongly rejected after reviewing available video footage.
Unverified videos circulated online appear to show Good manoeuvring her car slowly as officers surrounded the vehicle. As she attempted to move forward, an officer fired multiple shots. The vehicle then accelerated and crashed into a nearby telephone pole.
Good was struck in the head and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
🗣️ Mayor Frey denounces federal claims
Speaking at a press conference, Frey directly contradicted statements from the Department of Homeland Security, which had described the incident as “an act of domestic terrorism”.
“That’s bulls***,” Frey said. “This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.”
The mayor reiterated his criticism during a later appearance on CNN, arguing that the use of deadly force appeared unjustified based on the footage he had reviewed.
“The notion that this is domestic terrorism on the part of the victim is positively ridiculous,” Frey said.
He added that ICE’s presence in Minneapolis was actively destabilising the city.
“We do not want you here,” he said. “They are not here to provide safety. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust.”
⚖️ Investigations launched into shooting
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that the shooting will be investigated by both the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
O’Hara said he was “very concerned” by the incident and stressed that law enforcement officers nationwide are trained to avoid deadly force wherever possible – particularly against unarmed civilians.
“In any professional law enforcement agency in this country, officers are intensely trained to avoid situations where lethal force becomes necessary,” he said.
Federal authorities have not yet confirmed whether the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave.
🏛️ Immigration surge fuels political tensions
The incident comes amid a significant expansion of federal immigration enforcement in the Minneapolis area. Around 2,000 agents have reportedly been deployed as part of a broader immigration and anti-fraud crackdown authorised by the Trump administration.
The White House intensified operations in recent days following viral claims that childcare centres in the city had defrauded federal programmes – allegations that remain under investigation.
The crackdown has alarmed local officials and community groups, particularly given Minneapolis’s history of unrest following the 2020 police killing of George Floyd.
Mayor Frey warned residents to remain peaceful, arguing that any violence would be used to justify further militarised intervention.
“They will use any unrest as an excuse to escalate,” he said. “We cannot give them that justification.”
🌍 Wider political backdrop
The shooting has further inflamed tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic-led cities, especially those with large immigrant communities.
Minneapolis is home to one of the largest Somali populations in the United States, a group that President Trump has previously targeted with inflammatory rhetoric. The president has referred to Somali communities as “garbage” in past remarks – comments that city leaders say have contributed to fear and mistrust.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the agent’s actions, repeating claims that Good’s behaviour constituted a serious threat to officers’ lives.
The White House has not indicated whether ICE operations in Minneapolis will be scaled back.
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