The Trump administration has surged about 2,000 federal immigration agents into the Minneapolis area as part of what the Department of Homeland Security calls its largest immigration operation to date, after an ICE officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renée Good. At the same time, Trump has portrayed a U.S.-led takeover of Venezuela’s oil sector as a route to lower energy prices, even as major oil companies signal caution about investing there.
President Donald Trump’s administration has moved aggressively on immigration enforcement in Minnesota and on U.S. policy toward Venezuela’s oil industry, actions that have drawn sharp backlash from local officials, civil-rights advocates and protesters.
Minneapolis operation and fatal shooting
The Department of Homeland Security said it was sending about 2,000 federal agents and officers to the Minneapolis–St. Paul area in an operation it described as the agency’s largest immigration enforcement effort. Reports from multiple outlets said the surge began over the weekend preceding the announcement and has included ICE personnel as well as other DHS components.
The operation intensified public scrutiny after a fatal shooting on January 7, 2026, when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis. Good’s wife, Becca Good, said the couple had stopped to support neighbors during federal enforcement activity, and she described the encounter as peaceful on their side, saying, “We had whistles. They had guns.”
Federal officials initially did not publicly release the shooter’s name, but Jonathan Ross has been identified by major news organizations and through reporting based on court records and related documentation. DHS and the Trump administration have defended the shooting as self-defense, while local leaders and Good’s family have disputed that characterization, citing bystander footage and calling for transparency and accountability. The case is under investigation, including by federal authorities.
Protests and political pressure
The Nation’s Start Making Sense podcast and other reporting described a rapid wave of demonstrations following Good’s death, including events promoted under the slogan “Stop ICE—for Good.” Separately, major news outlets have documented continuing protests in Minneapolis, including arrests outside federal buildings and the use of crowd-control measures.
In Washington and in state capitals, Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups have argued that Congress should use upcoming budget and appropriations deadlines to constrain DHS and ICE. However, specific claims in some commentary—such as precise counts of protest events held nationwide within 48 hours—could not be independently confirmed from the primary reporting reviewed.
Venezuela oil strategy and corporate reluctance
At the same time, Trump has sought to portray U.S. actions in Venezuela as both a geopolitical move and an economic strategy aimed at reducing energy costs. Reuters and other outlets report that U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January 2026 and that Trump subsequently declared U.S. control over aspects of Venezuela’s oil sector. Reuters has also reported a U.S.-led effort to restrict or seize shipments of Venezuelan crude, which has disrupted exports to China.
In a White House meeting with oil executives on January 9, 2026, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods said Venezuela was “un-investable” under current conditions, citing legal uncertainty and risks tied to past expropriations. Coverage of the meeting also described Trump urging major firms to invest as much as $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry, while reporting differed on the level of interest expressed by companies beyond Exxon.
The U.S. government also issued a high-level travel warning for Venezuela. The State Department has cited risks including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest and poor health infrastructure, and it warned of reports that armed groups were setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States.
Trump also signed an executive order on January 9, 2026, declaring a national emergency to protect Venezuelan oil revenue held in U.S. Treasury accounts from attachment or other judicial process. The order was framed by the White House as a way to preserve funds for U.S. foreign policy objectives.
Separately, Trump drew attention for sharing a doctored screenshot styled as a Wikipedia entry on Truth Social that falsely labeled him the “Acting President of Venezuela.” Fact-checkers and multiple news reports confirmed the post.
Domestic drilling signals
In Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management offered 23 parcels totaling 20,451.34 acres at an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for January 8, 2026, according to BLM. Colorado Public Radio reported that the sale ultimately drew zero bids, despite low minimum starting prices, underscoring that industry interest can be limited even as the administration pushes to expand leasing.
State-level response
In Maryland, Democratic Delegate Adrian Boafo introduced legislation known as the “ICE Breakers Act of 2026,” which would bar certain ICE officers—those who joined after January 20, 2025—from employment in Maryland state law enforcement agencies. Supporters describe the bill as an accountability measure; critics argue it is politically motivated and likely to face legal challenges.
Together, the Minneapolis deployment, the fallout from Good’s killing, and the administration’s moves in Venezuela have fueled an escalating political fight over immigration enforcement, executive power and the economic tradeoffs embedded in Trump’s energy agenda.
