In the aftermath of activist Renee Good's fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7, ICE Watch groups are ramping up recruitment and trainings as nationwide protests demand accountability. Sessions have filled to capacity amid clashes, with officials warning against obstructing enforcement.
The January 7 shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good during an ICE operation in south Minneapolis—detailed in prior coverage—has fueled a surge in activism. Video showed Good's vehicle blocking agents before shots were fired, with federal claims of self-defense after the car struck an officer.
ICE Watch groups, which train activists to monitor and sometimes obstruct immigration enforcement, have accelerated efforts. Monarca hosted a packed training in Roseville on Saturday, urging participants to harass agents like 'mosquitoes,' with six sessions scheduled since the incident. Local defendthe612 held a session the next day, emphasizing rights education and safety planning.
Protests intensified nationwide, including 1,000 Indivisible-coordinated events over the 'ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.' In Minneapolis, a Friday gathering of 1,000 turned violent, yielding 29 arrests, hotel damage, and an officer injured by thrown ice. Mayor Jacob Frey condemned violence while supporting peaceful protest; DHS's Tricia McLaughlin stressed First Amendment limits. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem deployed more agents, noting impeding operations is criminal.
Activists persist: Minneapolis ICE Watch's Flannery Clark told CNN they document arrests to protect immigrants, deeming direct blocking too risky. Vice President JD Vance called for ballot-box action over violence. Good joined activism via her son's charter school. Concerns mount over training for 10,000 newly authorized ICE agents amid rising violence.