30 Arrested in Minneapolis ICE Protests After Fatal Shooting

Mass Arrests as Minneapolis ICE Protests Turn Chaotic

Minneapolis police arrested 30 people during overnight protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that turned violent, with one officer injured and hotel windows smashed. The demonstrations, which began peacefully with about 1,000 activists gathering outside the Canopy Hotel where ICE agents were believed to be staying, escalated when protesters marched through downtown blocking roads and some threw snow, ice, and stones at police.

Fatal Shooting Sparks Nationwide Outrage

The protests were triggered by the January 7, 2026 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three and U.S. citizen, by an ICE agent during an immigration enforcement operation. According to ABC News, Good was in her maroon Honda SUV when agent Jonathan Ross fired at least three shots. The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2020 killing of George Floyd in the same city.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has demanded ICE leave the city, stated in an official city statement that the presence of federal immigration agents is 'causing chaos and making the community less safe.' Frey praised the 'vast majority' of peaceful protesters while blaming 'far right agitators' for inciting violence.

Political Tensions Escalate

The protests come amid heightened political tensions over immigration policy. President Trump has deployed more than 2,000 ICE and other federal agents to Minnesota as part of his immigration enforcement strategy. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz echoed Frey's concerns, stating on social media: 'Trump sent thousands of armed federal agents to our state and it took only one day before they killed someone. He now wants nothing more than for the unrest to distract from that awful act. Don't give him what he wants.'

Mayor Frey warned protesters not to fall into what he called Trump's trap: 'He wants us to fall into his trap. We resist Donald Trump's chaos not with our own form of chaos, but with care and unity.'

Nationwide Demonstrations Continue

The Minneapolis incident has sparked nationwide protests organized by various human rights groups. According to AP News, thousands of Americans participated in 'ICE Out For Good' demonstrations across major cities including Washington D.C., Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Raleigh. The protests were largely peaceful, though tensions remain high.

ICE, created in 2002 following the September 11 attacks, has become increasingly controversial during the Trump administration. According to Wikipedia, the agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division is responsible for apprehending, detaining, and deporting undocumented immigrants, making it one of ICE's most contentious functions.

All arrested protesters have since been released, according to Mayor Frey's statement. The city has deployed approximately 200 officers to manage the demonstrations and is preparing for potential additional federal deployment.