In Minneapolis, anti-ICE protesters clashed violently with law enforcement Monday night following the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, according to videos shared online. Fireworks were reportedly set off as tensions escalated.
Footage captured officers restraining protesters outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, where a fireball had exploded during the confrontation. The police responded by deploying tear gas and making several arrests outside the facility, which serves as the regional ICE headquarters.
As chaotic scenes unfolded, protesters could be seen shouting insults at officers who were escorting individuals away. This kind of unrest has been a recurring theme in the Twin Cities recently, with demonstrators insisting on the removal of federal immigration agents from the area.
On Sunday, a different incident was reported where police arrested a man inside a home following a confrontation with protesters who were aiming to disrupt the ongoing activity by playing loud music and using noisemakers.
Meanwhile, in St. Cloud, the situation intensified as hundreds of both protesters and ICE agents clashed in a shopping mall parking lot, home to several Somali-owned businesses. The crowd grew significantly after a local Somali news network streamed the protests live on social media.
Since large-scale immigration operations began in early December, over 2,000 arrests have been made in Minnesota, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman.
Currently, around 2,000 immigration officers are present in Minnesota, with plans for an additional 1,000.
The protests were ignited on January 7, after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Good, a mother of three, during an operation in Minneapolis, alleging that a vehicle was used as a weapon against federal agents.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem referred to Good in a controversial statement as a “domestic terrorist.” As for Ross, he is reportedly not expected to face criminal charges, and there’s no indication of a civil rights investigation into Good’s shooting, although that could change as the investigation unfolds.
On Sunday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith expressed that state authorities should be involved in the investigation, given the federal government’s stance on the incident.
Protests have also erupted in Portland, Oregon, following a Customs and Border Protection officer shooting two individuals during a traffic stop. The couple allegedly had connections to a violent Venezuelan prison gang and were reportedly shot after attempting to flee the scene while armed.
