A family in the deeply conservative state of Idaho is facing a barrage of death threats after the father, a bar owner, announced he would host a party in support of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
A Bar Owner's Vocal Stance
Mark Fitzpatrick, the proprietor of the Old State Saloon in Eagle, Idaho, near Boise, is known for his outspoken political views. Just three days after Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot in Minneapolis by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, Fitzpatrick took to his bar's social media to announce a 'Hot ICE Party'.
This is not the first time he has courted controversy with his backing for the agency. In November, a promotion on X promised a free month of beer to anyone who "helps ICE identify and ultimately deport an illegal from Idaho." That offer went viral after the US Department of Homeland Security reposted it on its official X account.
Threats and Defiance
The latest party announcement has triggered a fresh wave of reactions, flooding Fitzpatrick with both support and severe criticism, including threats of violence against him and his family. Despite this, the former police officer remains undeterred.
"When people stand up for what's right and true and speak out against the far left, there will be a round of threats that come in," Fitzpatrick told the Daily Mail. "To me, the more people fight back against what I'm doing, I know it's right... it just kind of fuels the fire."
He stated the event would offer free food and drink to any attending ICE agents. The bar's screens will display the names of people allegedly killed by illegal immigrants, which Fitzpatrick says underscores the importance of supporting the agency.
A Nation Divided and Shifting Polls
The party is framed as a direct counter to the widespread anti-ICE protests under the 'ICE Out for Good' banner that erupted in cities like Los Angeles and Minneapolis following Good's death. The national reaction has split starkly along political lines, with the Trump administration and Republican supporters justifying the agent's actions, while Democrats have labelled the shooting a murder.
Fitzpatrick, who leans toward the administration's narrative, said he awaits more details but believes the agent could have felt his life was in danger. This stance places him in a shrinking minority. YouGov polls show public approval for ICE has fallen by 30% since February 2025, with only 24% strongly approving in a poll taken the day Good was killed.
"We're at this point where we don't have time to interview people and say, who's good enough to stay," Fitzpatrick argued. "We have to get rid of people who are not Americans."
Support Amidst the Backlash
Parallel to the threats, Fitzpatrick has received significant encouragement. A community group in Washington sent him $780 to help fund the party, and supporters from other states have reportedly travelled to his bar. He acknowledges the climate is "extreme on both sides."
Regarding the threats, he said, "I'm not an idiot who's just going to completely ignore them... But I don't live my life in fear."
Unfolding Developments in the Good Case
As the party date neared, further developments emerged. The Trump administration doubled down, claiming agent Ross suffered internal bleeding after being hit by Good's car and ordering an investigation into Good's widow, Rebecca—a move that prompted at least six federal prosecutors to resign.
Conversely, Good's family has spoken out to counter claims about her past, stating she was a human being with loved ones. Public records reviewed by the Daily Mail indicate her only criminal infraction was failing to have her vehicle inspected.
