Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has claimed that the woman who was shot dead by an unidentified Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Wednesday was ‘stalking’ law enforcement.
The woman, who was identified as Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot after driving towards officers during ICE’s operations in Minneapolis. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously told the Daily Mail in a statement that she was ‘attempting to kill them’.
Trump also took to his Truth Social page to declare that the woman driving the car was ‘a professional agitator’ who ‘violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer’ before the agent acted in self defense.
Noem then reiterated that claim as she spoke to reporters Wednesday night, claiming that Good had been ‘stalking’ agents prior to the shooting.
‘It’s very clear that this individual was harassing and impeding law enforcement operations,’ she said, before calling on federal prosecutors to charge individuals who use their vehicles to ram ICE agents as domestic terrorism.
The Homeland Security Secretary also took a number of swipes at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in her remarks, saying they have ‘let the city burn before,’ in reference to the riots following the death of George Floyd in 2020.
‘They are already trying to spin this as an act of self-defense. Having seen the video myself, I wanna tell everybody directly, that is bull****.’
Follow along for the latest updates
Noem slams Walz, Mayor Frey
In her remarks, Noem took several swipes at Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
‘Since Walz has been in charge of Minnesota, we have seen homicides go up by over 50 percent, that’s also during Mayor Frey’s tenure as well,’ she said.
‘This state has faced unprecedented immigration fraud, it’s seen unprecedented benefit fraud,’ Noem continued, saying fraudsters in the state diverted millions of dollars in aid.
She then noted that ‘this city has burned before and your mayor and your governor let it happen,’ referring to the riots following the death of George Floyd in 2020.
‘President Trump is not going to let that happen. He and our federal law enforcement officers are here to bring peace and to bring public safety, and to ensure that criminal activity is stopped and that people who perpetuate it face consequences.’
Noem claimed the victim was ‘stalking’ ICE officers
Noem said at the news conference that Renee Nicole Good had been ‘stalking’ immigration enforcement agents prior to the shooting.
‘It’s very clear that this individual was harassing and impeding law enforcement operations,’ she said, before calling on federal prosecutors to charge individuals who use their vehicles to ram ICE agents as domestic terrorism.
The Department of Homeland Security said they were acting in self-defense when the agent opened fire.
Amnesty International condemns shooting
Amnesty International has condemned the shooting.
‘The Trump administration has taken the life of yet another person through the unnecessary use of lethal force – driven by its cruel, anti-immigrant agenda – and again blatantly lied about the circumstances,’ the group said.
‘The growing presence of ICE, along with militarized crackdowns on protests we have witnessed in recent months, have violated the right to freedom of expression and made our communities unsafe, harming all of us.
‘This killing, as well as all ICE-related custodial deaths, must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible for abuses held accountable. More broadly, the attack on our communities by the Trump administration must stop now.’
Minnesota police organization condemns ‘inflammatory’ language against law enforcement
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is condemning ‘irresponsible, reckless rhetoric’ from political leaders in the aftermath of Wednesday’s ICE shooting.
‘The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association stands firmly behind law enforcement officers, accountability under the law, and the safety of every Minnesota community,’ the statement reads.
‘Irresponsible, reckless rhetoric from political leaders attacking law enforcement has real and dangerous consequences for officers on the street.
‘When officers are vilified, demonized, or used as political props, it fuels hostility, emboldens bad actors, and puts lives directly at risk.’
House Democrats say ICE ‘secret police can kill you’
House Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee have spoken out against the ICE-involved shooting.
‘What American citizens should understand: Kristi Noem’s secret police can kill you— then lie and call you a terrorist,’ the group posted on X.
‘That’s what they’re doing now.’
House Rep from Chicago files Articles of Impeachment against Noem
Robin Kelly, a Congresswoman from Chicago, has announced she is filing Articles of Impeachment against Noem.
‘I am impeaching Secretary Kristi Noem, who is an incompetent leader and a disgrace to our democracy,’ she wrote on X.
‘She wreaked havoc in the Chicagoland area and has brought her reign of terror to Minneapolis. One of her rogue ICE agents shot and killed an innocent woman today. It must come to an end.’
‘I refuse to stay silent while Secretary Noem breaks the rule of law and terrorizes our communities,’ Kelly added.
She said the Articles of Impeachment would be for violating the public trust, obstructing Congress, and self-dealing.
Elizabeth Warren calls for ICE to be reigned in by Congress
Sen. Elizabeth Warren called for ICE to be reigned in by Congress following Wednesday’s shooting.
‘This rogue agency’s escalating presence brings more and more danger to our communities,’ she wrote on X.
‘Donald Trump and ICE must be reined in by Congress and the courts before more people get hurt.’
US Senator from Minneapolis blasts Noem’s comments
US Sen Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, blasted Noem’s use of the term ‘domestic terrorism’ to describe the woman who was shot by an ICE agent in her vehicle.
She called Noem’s description ‘reckless,’ noting that it came while the incident is still under investigation, according to NBC News.
‘Domestic terrorism was the Oklahoma City bombing,’ Smith said.
‘This was a woman in her car in a neighborhood that is only a few miles from where I live. I know it quite well.’
She then said she found it difficult to find any evidence from the video that the woman rammed ICE agents as Noem claimed.
Border Czar Tom Homan defends agent
Border Czar Tom Homan has defended the agent who opened fire on Renee Nicole Good on Wednesday.
He said the incident in Minneapolis ‘is yet another tragic example of the hateful rhetoric and violent attacks against the men and women of ICE and [Border Patrol]’ agents.
‘These brave men and women are forced to conduct law enforcement operations in heightened threat environments every day,’ Homan said, declaring that the officers ‘have a right to self defense.’
California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that Trump’s immigration crackdown ‘must end.’
‘His administration has driven extremism and cruelty while discarding basic safeguards and accountability,’ Newsom posted on X.
‘Now, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen is dead.
‘Donald Trump owns this. His deliberate escalation of intimidation and chaos has consequences. His reckless crackdown must end.’
New York Governor Hochul says shooting was ‘entirely foreseeable’
In a statement on X, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the shooting on Wednesday was ‘entirely foreseeable.’
‘Sending armed, masked federal agents into our communities does not make us safer. This has to stop,’ she declared.
‘It raises tensions, spreads fear, undermines people’s rights, and distracts from the real priority of going after those who pose a real threat to public safety.’
Furious protesters burned the American flag on the streets of Minneapolis as the city descended into chaos after a woman was shot dead by an ICE agent.
Shocking footage showed the Stars and Stripes being set aflame as hordes took to the streets on Wednesday.
The protesters shouted anti-ICE chants as they burned the flag, while others threw snowballs at and physically confronted agents.