Contentious CNN Panel Discussion on ICE’s Actions

On Sunday, Rep. Yasmin Ansari, a Democrat from Arizona, found herself interrupting a CNN panel multiple times. She was pushing back against David Urban, a former leader of Trump’s campaign, who claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had “murdered” Renee Goode.

During a discussion on “State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash,” Ansari asserted that ICE agents had committed “murder” by shooting Goode in Minneapolis. Video evidence suggests that Goode was driving towards an officer, driven by his wife’s encouragement. The Trump administration maintains that the officer acted in self-defense, though no charges have been brought against him.

“Trump is misleading the public. Vice President JD Vance is misleading the public,” Ansari stated on CNN, expressing her belief, drawn from her experiences in Minneapolis, that ICE is out of control. “ICE operates like a corrupt, lawless agency, detaining American citizens… and now, tragically, they have taken the life of an American citizen, Renee Nicole Goode.”

After Ansari spoke for quite a while, Tapper prompted Urban to address the situation. Urban suggested “completely defunding” ICE in light of Ansari’s comments regarding Goode’s death.

“I don’t think such rhetoric is helpful. [Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s] comments are unkind,” Urban replied, referencing Frey’s statement urging ICE to leave Minneapolis on the day of the incident.

Urban continued, emphasizing, “This is American law. If it bothers you, gather your colleagues and change the law—work on it in the Senate.” But Ansari interrupted again.

“It’s my turn! He didn’t kill anyone. Now, let me speak,” Urban responded, visibly frustrated as he pounded his palm against the table.

Ansari tried to interject again.

“It’s my turn to speak,” Urban reasserted. “I was looking up to you. Please, let me talk.”

Then, it seemed Ansari muttered “Please” under her breath.

Urban continued, “She [Goode] was weaponizing her vehicle that morning. Look, Jake, she could’ve had a gun on her hip and the police wouldn’t have fired at her. They instructed her to exit the car. Instead, she revved the engine and drove forward, as if she had a weapon.” He added that the officer faced a split-second decision to shoot, without time to review hours of footage.

“Do you think he intended to take a life that day?” Urban elaborated, referring to the ICE officials. “No, she made the choice to be there, breaking the law and protesting. When she drove forward, it was as if she was aiming a weapon. He had an instant to decide whether to pull the trigger. So, I say—”

Once more, Ansari interrupted Urban.

“She tried to run him over!” a panelist echoed, speaking on behalf of Ansari.

Ansari, in her first term, has been a strong critic of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement measures this past year.

She garnered attention in September 2025 for describing illegal immigrants as her “constituents.” When a media outlet questioned her about this, she shrugged it off, stating she wasn’t worried about their inability to vote for her. Additionally, she was part of a group of four Democratic congressmen who stayed at a luxury hotel in El Salvador to protest the deportation of Kilmer Abrego Garcia, known to have ties to the MS-13 gang.