Tensions are escalating in Minneapolis as city officials accuse federal authorities of obscuring the truth following the fatal shooting of a US citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Mayor Jacob Frey has launched a scathing critique of the Trump administration's handling of the incident, which occurred during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation.
Mayor Demands Transparency in Federal Investigation
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the federal response to the death of Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three who was shot in her car near the intersection of East 34th Street and Portland Avenue on Wednesday. Frey accused the FBI of "hiding the facts" after it assumed full control of the investigation, excluding officials from Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
"This is not a time to hide from the facts," Frey stated. "If you've got nothing to hide from, then don't hide from it. Our ask is to embrace the truth. Our ask is to include the bureau of criminal apprehension in this process, because we in Minneapolis want a fair investigation."
His comments came in direct response to swift accusations from Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who labelled Good a "domestic terrorist" without providing evidence and before the official inquiry had properly begun.
Community Vigils and Political Fallout
The shooting has triggered peaceful protests and vigils in Minneapolis and other major US cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. In Minneapolis, residents gathered for a second night in freezing temperatures, with tributes of flowers, rainbow flags, and a wooden cross accumulating at the scene.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz declared a "day of unity" on Friday, calling for a moment of silence for Good. He also expressed deep concern over the state's exclusion from the probe. "Now that Minnesota has been taken out of the investigation, it feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome," Walz said, criticising the premature judgments from top federal officials.
The incident has stirred fears of a repeat of the unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd in 2020, which occurred roughly a mile from where Good was killed.
Legal Dispute Over Immunity and Evidence
The political and legal battle intensified when Vice President JD Vance asserted at a White House briefing that the ICE officer, identified as Jonathan Ross, a ten-year veteran, enjoyed "absolute immunity" from prosecution. Mayor Frey vehemently disputed this claim.
"That's not true in any law school in America... that's not true if you break the law," Frey countered. He stood by his earlier description of the killing as a "reckless abuse of power" and his demand for ICE to leave the city.
The FBI's seizure of evidence has caused outrage locally. Former federal prosecutor Tom Heffelfinger called the move "disgusting," stating it "guarantees there cannot be a fair and complete investigation." Meanwhile, video evidence of the incident appears to contradict the administration's claim that Ross acted in self-defence against a charging vehicle, showing the SUV's wheels turned away from the officer.
As the New York Times reports the deployment of 100 more federal agents to Minneapolis, and with a similar fatal shooting by border patrol in Portland, Oregon, the controversy over federal immigration tactics and accountability continues to grow.
