At a Glance
- ICE officer Jonathan Ross shot legal observer Renee Nicole Good three times at close range in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
- Austin saw four protests in three days, with police arresting five demonstrators Saturday night.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Good a “domestic terrorist” within two hours; videos appear to show Good trying to drive away.
**Why it matters: The killing and swift federal narrative have galvanized nationwide calls to curb ICE powers and limit local cooperation.
Austin residents filled four separate demonstrations across three days after the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a legal observer killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. Video of the incident, widely shared online, shows Ross fire through Good’s windshield as she appears to steer away from him.
Night-by-Night Protests
Thursday, Jan. 8 – Roughly 150 people rallied outside an unmarked ICE and Department of Homeland Security facility in Pflugerville. Brianna Griffith of the Austin Party for Socialism & Liberation told News Of Austin the action aimed to show “we are the vast majority, and are willing to stand up against this ICE terrorism.”
Friday, Jan. 9 – About 100 demonstrators converged on the Capitol’s southern gates at 7 p.m., waving Mexican flags and signs reading “ICE out of Austin” and “Justice for Renee Good.” Organizers led chants of “¡Fuera, ICE!” and “Stand up, fight back!”
Saturday, Jan. 10 – Protesters first assembled outside City Hall in the afternoon, then moved to the J.J. Pickle Federal Building that evening. Law enforcement officers deployed pepper balls and chemical irritant gas; Austin police reported five arrests for obstructing roadways and endangering bystanders.
Federal Response Sparks Outrage
President Donald Trump had ordered what he called the “largest DHS operation ever,” dispatching 2,000 federal agents to Minnesota to investigate alleged child-care fraud. Two hours after Good’s death-before any formal investigation-Secretary Kristi Noem publicly called Good a “domestic terrorist,” asserting she tried to strike Ross with her car and that the agent fired in self-defense.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rejected the federal account as “bullshit” and demanded ICE “get the fuck out of Minneapolis” during a press conference the same afternoon.
Activists link Good’s death to other recent ICE shootings, including the September killing of Silverio Villegas González during a Chicago traffic stop. Good is the 33rd person to die in ICE-related incidents this year; 32 others have died in agency custody, the highest toll in two decades, according to The Guardian.
Local Leaders Under Pressure
Austin City Council member Mike Siegel urged local police on Jan. 8 to “protect our communities in the face of lawless federal agents,” saying any similar shooting in Austin should prompt immediate arrest of the shooter “just as we would in any instance of such well-documented criminal action.”
Protesters want city officials and the Austin Police Department to:
- Refuse expanded cooperation with ICE under the 287(g) Program
- Shield the city’s immigrant community from federal enforcement
- Reject Senate Bill 8, effective Jan. 1, that requires Texas sheriffs to decide on 287(g) participation by year’s end
Mayor Kirk Watson told News Of Austin Austin “will protect the right for people to peacefully protest,” but added, “Austin cannot allow destructive activities or violations of law.”
Voices From the Crowd
At Friday’s Capitol protest, Jesse Valdelamar of the Austin Immigrant Rights Action Committee told the crowd:
> “Despite what the Trump administration may want us to believe, Renee does not fit the profile of a criminal. She will be remembered as a prize-winning poet, lovely guitarist, a celebrated member of her community, and … a mother.”
Arshia Papari, a protester and Texas congressional candidate, said every law-enforcement officer should “make a conscious decision to not follow orders that continue to bring terror to our communities.”
A student protester led the crowd in rejecting federal narratives: “We’ve been sold the lies that our immigrant friends, family, and neighbors are violent and dangerous criminals. In reality … the real threats to our safety are ICE. The threats are our own government.”
What Happens Next
Organizers vow continued demonstrations until local leaders limit ICE collaboration and federal authorities release unedited body-camera footage. The five weekend arrestees face misdemeanor charges; court dates have not been announced.
Key Takeaways
- Nationwide backlash grows after ICE officer kills legal observer Renee Good.
- Austin protests spotlight demands to end 287(g) partnerships and protect immigrants.
- Local officials balance protest rights against federal enforcement expansion.
