> At a Glance
> – An ICE officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, during a Minneapolis raid
> – DHS has axed or shrunk watchdog offices that probe excessive-force claims
> – 10 shootings by immigration officers since raids escalated; 3 dead, 6 hurt
> – Why it matters: With oversight hollowed out, families have fewer ways to get answers or accountability when things go wrong.
Minneapolis is demanding answers after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a woman this week, but the federal watchdogs that once investigated such incidents have been gutted-leaving accountability in short supply.
A Raid Turns Deadly
Video obtained by News Of Los Angeles shows ICE Officer Jonathan Ross walking around Good’s Honda Pilot before the shooting. Good smiles and says, “That’s fine, dude, I’m not mad at you,” a dog visible in the back seat.
Moments later officers order her out of the SUV. When she begins to drive away, Ross fires. The vehicle crashes; Good dies at the scene.
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz warned the tactics would get someone hurt: “We’re seeing the consequences of governance designed to generate fear.”
- DHS policy bars deadly force solely to stop a fleeing vehicle; it requires an “immediate” threat of death or serious injury.
- Videos show the officer’s legs were to the side of the SUV as shots were fired; he walked away unassisted.
Oversight Offices Hollowed Out
The Department of Homeland Security has cut staff and sought to close three key watchdog units:
- Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
- Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman
- Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman
A whistle-blower told Congress hundreds of excessive-force complaints are now backlogged.
| Agency | Status | Function |
|---|---|---|
| CRCL | Downsized | Civil-rights complaints |
| DOJ Civil Rights Division | Hundreds of lawyers lost | Pattern-or-practice probes shelved |
| FBI Minneapolis | Initially joint, now solo lead | Shooting investigation |
Pattern of Vehicle Shootings
At least 10 shootings by immigration officers have erupted since the current surge in raids:
- 8 came after officers claimed drivers tried to ram them.
- Criminal charges in two cases were dropped after video contradicted the ramming claims.
- Portland saw two more people wounded by Border Patrol gunfire Thursday night.
Former ICE official Scott Shuchart says the shift to high-risk vehicle stops raises danger to “collateral, property or people.”
Local Pushback
Oregon Attorney General’s Office opened its own excessive-force probe into the Portland shooting, warning federal immunity has limits.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson criticized using the city as “a military training ground.”
DHS counters that agents face rising threats; Secretary Kristi Noem insists the Minneapolis officer “defended his life.”
Key Takeaways
- Watchdog offices that once investigated force complaints are gutted, stalling transparency.
- Video evidence in the Minneapolis case challenges official claims the officer was run over.
- Parallel state and federal probes may yield conflicting conclusions on justification.
With oversight weakened and raids intensifying, communities may see more unrest before any systemic change emerges.
