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  • Prairieland ICE center trial: Officer testifies about being shot, returning fire

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    A collection of just shy of two dozen people furious at U.S. government efforts to deport illegal immigrants gathered outside a detention center in rural Johnson County on the symbolically significant July 4 to carry out a violent rebuke, prosecutors described to a jury in Fort Worth on Tuesday at a joint trial for nine defendants.

    With a rifle, Benjamin Song, a former Marine Corps reservist, fired upon Alvarado police Lt. Thomas Gross just after Gross arrived at the center, prosecutors allege. A projectile entered his upper shoulder, left the back of his neck and took a path through tissue and muscle, but avoided vital organs.

    Song confessed to three co-defendants, who have pleaded guilty, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith said in the government’s opening statement. The accomplices will testify at the trial, Smith forecast.

    “They’re going to tell it to you,” Smith said of the expected testimony on Song’s admission.

    Defense attorneys who represent eight of the nine defendants offered in their openings a radically different account of evidence they said would fall short of establishing a sophisticated conspiracy to commit violence.

    Rather, many of the defense attorneys asserted, their clients intended to participate in nothing more than a noise demonstration to bring hope to detainees. One is a mechanical engineer; another operates a benign book club, the defense attorneys said.

    Defense attorney Phillip Hayes, who represents Song, reserved his opening statement for a time later in the trial.

    The indictment represents an attempt to prosecute citizens for their political beliefs, defense attorneys have argued.

    Law enforcement escort nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year from the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of the trial began Monday after the judge declared a mistrial during jury selection in the previous trial.
    Law enforcement officers escort nine defendants indicted in connection to the shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center from the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A jury for their trial was selected Monday in the second attempt after the judge declared a mistrial during jury selection last week. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com

    Defense attorney Warren St. John, who represents Meagan Morris, said his client was present at the detention center but was not involved in a crime.

    “She didn’t get out of the van one time,” St. John said in his opening statement.

    Beyond Song and Morris, who is referred to as Bradford Morris in the indictment, the defendants are Autumn Hill, referred to as Cameron Arnold in the indictment, Zachary Evetts, Savanna Batten, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto and Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada.

    Gross took the witness stand for the government, recalling being shot, falling to the ground and returning fire at a moving silhouette.

    The emotional toll of the shootings continues, the lieutenant testified.

    “It’s a day I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life,” Gross said.

    The trial is to continue on Wednesday with the government’s case.

    This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 10:42 PM.

    Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Emerson Clarridge

    Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Emerson Clarridge covers crime and other breaking news for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He works days and reports on law enforcement affairs in Tarrant County. He previously was a reporter at the Omaha World-Herald and the Observer-Dispatch in Utica, New York.

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  • After mistrial, judge takes jury selection reins in Texas ICE center shooting case

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    At times, the discussion on Monday inside a federal district courtroom in Fort Worth sounded as if it was from an AM radio talk show, with callers chiming in on hot-button political matters like guns, terrorism and antifa.

    At one point, the host, U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, asked a mostly attentive audience whether anyone believed transgender people are more likely to be violent. A woman shared her view that mental illness was likely in play. No one else raised their hand.

    One participant was less engaged. Prospective Juror No. 42 fell asleep.

    But rather than passionate fuel for a radio broadcast, the responses were from prospective jurors on subjects at the center of a trial that is underway in Fort Worth in which nine defendants have been indicted in connection with the July 4 shooting of a police lieutenant outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Johnson County.

    The hunt for a fair and impartial jury began anew after the first effort to impanel a jury was halted last week when Judge Pittman declared a mistrial in the case because a defense attorney, while questioning potential jurors, wore a T-shirt on which there were photos of Civil Rights Era-protesters.

    Law enforcement agents stand outside the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of the trial of nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year began Monday.
    Law enforcement agents stand outside the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of the trial of nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year began Monday. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com

    Pittman concluded that attorney MarQuetta Clayton wore the shirt in an attempt to visually equate the civil rights movement to the Prairieland Detention Facility shooting, a position perhaps appropriate for argument to the jury, the judge said, but improper to deliver via clothing to panel members in jury selection.

    Clayton wore the shirt under a blazer.

    Pittman himself handled questioning in the second attempt at selecting a jury after offering the U.S. Attorney’s Office and defense attorneys an opportunity to suggest questions.

    A 14-member jury was sworn in on Monday afternoon. Opening statements are expected on Tuesday morning.

    Prosecutors have 61 potential witnesses. The trial is likely to take about two and a half weeks.

    Pittman asked whether any of the prospective jurors held strong feelings about immigration enforcement or antifa, and whether, if they did, the panel members would only consider evidence from the trial in verdict deliberation and set aside political sentiments.

    Law enforcement escort nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year from the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of the trial began Monday after the judge declared a mistrial during jury selection in the previous trial.
    Law enforcement escort nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year from the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of their trial began Monday after the judge declared a mistrial during jury selection in the previous trial. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com

    The case’s top count is attempted murder. Defense attorneys suggest the culpability of each defendant is in question.

    Although much of the activity outside the Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado was recorded on video, the defendants’ use of monikers in encrypted written messages in advance of the shooting, avoidance of cellphones that would indicate their location and employment of other methods to maintain “op-sec” has stymied the connection of behavior to an individual defendant, the government has suggested.

    The defendants’ attorneys refer to their clients as protesters. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office describe them as attackers and domestic terrorists aligned with antifa.

    Some ignited fireworks, others spoke from a bullhorn, still others spray-painted anti-ICE slogans on vehicles and an unoccupied guard booth.

    Supporters of the nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year chant across the street from the federal courthouse downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of the trial began Monday after the judge declared a mistrial during jury selection in the previous trial.
    Supporters of the nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year chant across the street from the federal courthouse downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of the trial began Monday after the judge declared a mistrial during jury selection in the previous trial. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com

    One of the defendants, Benjamin Song, a 32-year-old former Marine Corps reservist who associates described to authorities as a cult-like ringleader who opposes the government on immigration enforcement and on other matters, shot Alvarado Police Department Lt. Thomas Gross, authorities allege.

    The lieutenant suffered one gunshot wound that entered near his shoulder and exited his back.

    Song was the only non-law enforcement shooter, the government alleges. He is accused of firing 11 rounds from a rifle. Gross returned fire with three rounds.

    Song and the other defendants were motivated by the position that the migrants who are detained at the ICE facility are political prisoners, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith asserted at an earlier hearing in the case.

    Beyond Song, the defendants are Autumn Hill (referred to as Cameron Arnold in the indictment), Zachary Evetts, Savanna Batten, Meagan Morris (referred to as Bradford Morris in the indictment), Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto and Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada.

    Law enforcement agents stand outside the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of the trial of nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year began Monday.
    Law enforcement agents stand outside the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. A second attempt of the trial of nine defendants indicted in connection to the nonfatal shooting of a police officer outside a North Texas ICE detention center last year began Monday. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com

    Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Emerson Clarridge

    Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Emerson Clarridge covers crime and other breaking news for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He works days and reports on law enforcement affairs in Tarrant County. He previously was a reporter at the Omaha World-Herald and the Observer-Dispatch in Utica, New York.

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  • Latest shooting is 17th time immigration officials have fired at civilians in Trump’s second term

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    I urge anyone that is at the scene to leave immediately. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara urging protesters to go home Wednesday night amid clashes with law enforcement after *** federal officer shot *** man in the leg. The Department of Homeland Security said the subject, *** Venezuelan man who was in the country illegally, fled in his vehicle during *** targeted traffic stop, then crashed into *** parked car and fled on foot. When the officer caught up to him, he allegedly resisted arrest. DHS said two other individuals attacked the officer with *** snow shovel and *** broom handle. During the struggle, the federal agent discharged his weapon, striking one adult male. Tensions rose as protesters gathered at the scene, with *** crowd following agents through the neighborhood. Agents launched pepper balls and what sounded like flashbangs. Smoke hung in the air as officers deployed tear gas canisters, with *** member of the crowd apparently throwing one of the canisters back at agents while still demanding ICE leave the city. Officials, including the mayor, are asking the public to remain peaceful. We cannot counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our own brand of chaos. For those that have peacefully protested, I applaud you. For those that are taking the bait, you are not helping. I’m Reed Binion reporting.

    Federal immigration officials have fired gunshots at people in at least 17 different incidents since President Donald Trump began his second term nearly a year ago. In the latest incident, a federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis on Jan. 14 after he was attacked with a snow shovel and broom handle, according to Homeland Security. Federal officers were conducting a traffic stop, DHS said, when the man crashed into a parked car and fled on foot. As the man and the officer were in a struggle on the ground, two people from a nearby apartment came out with the shovel and broom, according to DHS reports.The latest shooting comes a week after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good less than 10 miles away, sparking widespread protests and fear in the city.A Get the Facts Data Team analysis of data collected by The Trace has found that four people have been killed and at least eight have been injured in the 17 shooting incidents.The number of incidents is likely an undercount, according to The Trace, as not all shootings are publicly reported. Also, others have been killed during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown beyond those killed by guns.Most of the shooting incidents have been in the Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis areas.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

    Federal immigration officials have fired gunshots at people in at least 17 different incidents since President Donald Trump began his second term nearly a year ago.

    In the latest incident, a federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis on Jan. 14 after he was attacked with a snow shovel and broom handle, according to Homeland Security.

    Federal officers were conducting a traffic stop, DHS said, when the man crashed into a parked car and fled on foot. As the man and the officer were in a struggle on the ground, two people from a nearby apartment came out with the shovel and broom, according to DHS reports.

    The latest shooting comes a week after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good less than 10 miles away, sparking widespread protests and fear in the city.

    A Get the Facts Data Team analysis of data collected by The Trace has found that four people have been killed and at least eight have been injured in the 17 shooting incidents.

    The number of incidents is likely an undercount, according to The Trace, as not all shootings are publicly reported. Also, others have been killed during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown beyond those killed by guns.

    Most of the shooting incidents have been in the Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis areas.

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  • Show of force: Thousands march in Midtown against ICE and Trump days after Minneapolis killing of Renee Good – amNewYork

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    Thousands marched through Midtown Manhattan on Sunday in a massive show of defiance against President Trump’s ongoing ICE enforcement in America.

    Photo by Dean Moses

    Thousands marched through Midtown Manhattan on Sunday in a massive show of defiance against President Trump’s ongoing ICE enforcement in America.

    The enormous and peaceful demonstration began at the corner of 60th Street and 5th Avenue at around 1 p.m. and served as the largest to hit New York since the killing of Renee Good. Carrying homemade signs, playing musical instruments, and carrying American flags (some of which were held upside down in a sign of distress), the vast crowd demanded that masked Federal agents immediately stop patrolling the streets while calling for the ICE officer who fatally shot Good be held accountable.

    The diverse gathering — made up of children and seniors, including many who do not normally protest causes — traveled from the southwest corner of Central Park and passed by Trump Tower on 5th Avenue where droves of people screamed “f**ck Trump” and gave the president’s namesake the middle finger.

    The throng of people then slowly headed down to the New York Public Library, where they turned right on 42nd Street and headed to Times Square.

    “Renee was killed by the state because she defended her neighbors. She was killed because she defended our collective sense of humanity. Her blood was shed in Minneapolis because she refused to stay silent. She refused to accept the lies peddled by the US government and the Trump administration,” Manolo De Los Santos of the People’s Forum said. 

    While many decried ICE for what they called an occupation of the United States, others took the Trump regime to task for its military strike in Venezuela. Chris Dols railed against the president for allocating funds from healthcare to pay for the mass mobilization of ICE.

    “With the passing of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill over the summer, when ICE’s budget was ballooned to unfathomable heights at the expense of healthcare and SNAP benefits and so much else. What that means is very concretely, quite literally, that when ICE murders a protester, the gun, the bullets, the officer’s salary is paid for,” Dols said. “When ICE turns our federal buildings into zones of humanitarian crisis, that’s paid for by cuts to health care. And when the military is used to topple foreign governments, that’s paid for with cuts to emergency management services and FEMA, climate science, food safety — you name it. All the things they’re cutting are going towards their aims.”

    The enormous and peaceful demonstration assembled on 60th Street and 5th Avenue at around 1 p.m. and served as the largest to hit New York since the killing of Renne Good.Photo by Dean Moses
    Carrying homemade signs, playing musical instruments, and even carrying the star spangled banner upside down, the vast crowd demanded that masked Federal agents immediately stop patrolling the streets while calling for the ICE officer who gunned down good to be held accountable.Photo by Dean Moses

    The protest — made up of children and seniors— traveled from the Southeast corner of Central Park and passed by Trump Tower on 5th Avenue where droves of people screamed “f**ck Trump” and gave the president’s namesake the middle finger.Photo by Dean Moses

    The protest — made up of children and seniors— traveled from the Southeast corner of Central Park and passed by Trump Tower on 5th Avenue where droves of people screamed “f**ck Trump” and gave the president’s namesake the middle finger.Photo by Dean Moses
    The protest marched through Midtown.Photo by Dean Moses

    Pedestrians stopped in their tracks to watch the colossal numbers stride through the city, filming it on their cellphones. The protesters themselves chanted “No justice, no peace,” and “No ICE.”

    A slew of elected officials also joined the demonstration, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, and City Council Member Alexa Avilés, who chairs the Council’s Immigration Committee.

    “It’s a damn shame we have here in 2026, fighting against the fascist government. But we are here to fight,” Avilés said. “We are here while Trump and his fascist goons are coming after immigrants across this country. We are here to say not on our damn watch.”

    Protests have sparked across the nation following the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good, who was gunned down by an ICE agent on a Minneapolis street on Jan. 7.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called her a “domestic terrorist” and claimed that Good charged at ICE agents with her vehicle, but viral video contradicts Noem’s claims.

    Thousands marched through Midtown ManhattanPhoto by Dean Moses
    Thousands marched through Midtown ManhattanPhoto by Dean Moses
    Protesters made signs out of cardboard.Photo by Dean Moses
    Others dressed up.Photo by Dean Moses
    Photo by Dean Moses
    Photo by Dean Moses
    Photo by Dean Moses
    Photo by Dean Moses
    Photo by Dean Moses
    Photo by Dean Moses
    Photo by Dean Moses

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  • Anti-ICE protests erupt across the country after shootings

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    Protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown erupted across the United States this weekend, including outside the White House, following two recent shootings involving immigration officers.A border officer wounded two people in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday. In a separate event on Wednesday, an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, where thousands marched on Saturday. Minnesota leaders urged demonstrators to remain peaceful after several protesters were arrested on Friday. The Trump administration insists that federal officers acted in self-defense in both shootings. The Department of Homeland Security is not backing down from what it has called its biggest-ever immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities. The agency highlighted the arrest of “criminal illegal aliens” in social media posts on Saturday. Meanwhile, the administration faces pushback from Democrats and certain Republicans on Capitol Hill. Critics are calling for a full, objective investigation into the Minneapolis shooting after state officials were left out of the probe.Some Democrats are calling to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, while others want to restrict funding for her department and add further restrictions on federal agents.Cellphone video below from the ICE agent who shot Renee Good shows the moments before and during the shooting. Viewer discretion is advised.

    Protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown erupted across the United States this weekend, including outside the White House, following two recent shootings involving immigration officers.

    A border officer wounded two people in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday. In a separate event on Wednesday, an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, where thousands marched on Saturday.

    Minnesota leaders urged demonstrators to remain peaceful after several protesters were arrested on Friday.

    The Trump administration insists that federal officers acted in self-defense in both shootings.

    The Department of Homeland Security is not backing down from what it has called its biggest-ever immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities. The agency highlighted the arrest of “criminal illegal aliens” in social media posts on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, the administration faces pushback from Democrats and certain Republicans on Capitol Hill. Critics are calling for a full, objective investigation into the Minneapolis shooting after state officials were left out of the probe.

    Some Democrats are calling to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, while others want to restrict funding for her department and add further restrictions on federal agents.

    Cellphone video below from the ICE agent who shot Renee Good shows the moments before and during the shooting. Viewer discretion is advised.

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  • Protests against ICE planned across the US after shootings in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon

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    Protesters against immigration enforcement actions took to the streets in cities and towns across the country on Saturday after a federal officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis and another shot and wounded two people in Portland, Oregon.Video above: Protesters and counterprotesters clash in Minneapolis day after ICE shootingThe demonstrations come as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pushes forward in the Twin Cities with what it calls its biggest-ever immigration enforcement operation. President Donald Trump’s administration has said both shootings were acts of self-defense against drivers who “weaponized” their vehicles to attack officers. Steven Eubanks, 51, said he felt compelled to get out of his comfort zone and attend a Saturday protest in Durham, North Carolina, because of what he called the “horrifying” killing in Minneapolis.”We can’t allow it,” Eubanks said. “We have to stand up.”Video below: Protests intensify after ICE shooting of Renee GoodIndivisible, a social movement organization that formed to resist the Trump administration, said hundreds of protests were scheduled in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Florida and other states. Many were dubbed “ICE Out for Good” using the acronym for the federal agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Indivisible and its local chapters organized protests in all 50 states last year.In Minneapolis, a coalition of migrant rights groups called for a demonstration at Powderhorn Park, a large green space about half a mile from the residential neighborhood where 37-year-old Renee Good was shot on Wednesday. They said the rally and march would celebrate Good’s life and call for an “end to deadly terror on our streets.”Protests held in the neighborhood have so far been largely peaceful, in contrast to the violence that hit Minneapolis in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Near the airport, some confrontations erupted on Thursday and Friday between smaller groups of protesters and officers guarding the federal building used as a base for the Twin Cities crackdown. On Friday night, a protest outside a Minneapolis hotel that attracted about 1,000 people turned violent as people threw ice, snow and rocks at officers, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a news conference Saturday. One officer suffered minor injuries after being struck with a piece of ice, O’Hara said. Twenty-nine people were cited and released, he said.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stressed that while most protests have been peaceful, those who cause damage to property or put others in danger will be arrested.The Trump administration has been surging thousands of federal officers to Minnesota under a sweeping new crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. More than 2,000 officers were taking part. Some officers moved in after abruptly pulling out of Louisiana, where they were part of another operation that started last month and was expected to last until February. Associated Press writer Allen Breed contributed to this report from Durham, North Carolina.

    Protesters against immigration enforcement actions took to the streets in cities and towns across the country on Saturday after a federal officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis and another shot and wounded two people in Portland, Oregon.

    Video above: Protesters and counterprotesters clash in Minneapolis day after ICE shooting

    The demonstrations come as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pushes forward in the Twin Cities with what it calls its biggest-ever immigration enforcement operation. President Donald Trump’s administration has said both shootings were acts of self-defense against drivers who “weaponized” their vehicles to attack officers.

    Steven Eubanks, 51, said he felt compelled to get out of his comfort zone and attend a Saturday protest in Durham, North Carolina, because of what he called the “horrifying” killing in Minneapolis.

    “We can’t allow it,” Eubanks said. “We have to stand up.”

    Video below: Protests intensify after ICE shooting of Renee Good

    Indivisible, a social movement organization that formed to resist the Trump administration, said hundreds of protests were scheduled in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Florida and other states. Many were dubbed “ICE Out for Good” using the acronym for the federal agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Indivisible and its local chapters organized protests in all 50 states last year.

    In Minneapolis, a coalition of migrant rights groups called for a demonstration at Powderhorn Park, a large green space about half a mile from the residential neighborhood where 37-year-old Renee Good was shot on Wednesday. They said the rally and march would celebrate Good’s life and call for an “end to deadly terror on our streets.”

    Protests held in the neighborhood have so far been largely peaceful, in contrast to the violence that hit Minneapolis in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Near the airport, some confrontations erupted on Thursday and Friday between smaller groups of protesters and officers guarding the federal building used as a base for the Twin Cities crackdown.

    NurPhoto

    In St. Paul, Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz and First Lady Gwen Walz join a moment of silence with clergy and demonstrators at the Minnesota State Capitol during a vigil urging accountability and compassion after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman this week.

    On Friday night, a protest outside a Minneapolis hotel that attracted about 1,000 people turned violent as people threw ice, snow and rocks at officers, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a news conference Saturday. One officer suffered minor injuries after being struck with a piece of ice, O’Hara said. Twenty-nine people were cited and released, he said.

    Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stressed that while most protests have been peaceful, those who cause damage to property or put others in danger will be arrested.

    The Trump administration has been surging thousands of federal officers to Minnesota under a sweeping new crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. More than 2,000 officers were taking part.

    Some officers moved in after abruptly pulling out of Louisiana, where they were part of another operation that started last month and was expected to last until February.

    Associated Press writer Allen Breed contributed to this report from Durham, North Carolina.

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  • Graphic: New video shows confrontation between ICE officer, Renee Good before fatal shooting

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    A Minnesota prosecutor on Friday called on the public to share with investigators any recordings and evidence connected to the fatal shooting of Renee Good as a new video emerged showing the final moments of her encounter with an immigration officer.Warning: The video above may be graphic to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.The Minneapolis killing and a separate shooting in Portland, Oregon, a day later by the Border Patrol have set off protests in multiple cities and denunciations of immigration enforcement tactics by the U.S. government. The Trump administration has defended the officer who shot Good in her car, saying he was protecting himself and fellow agents.The reaction to the shooting has largely been focused on witness cellphone video of the encounter. A new, 47-second video that was published online by a Minnesota-based conservative news site, Alpha News, and later reposted on social media by the Department of Homeland Security shows the shooting from the perspective of ICE officer Jonathan Ross, who fired the shots.Video below: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey holds press conference FridaySirens blaring in the background, he approaches Good’s vehicle in the middle of the road while apparently filming on his cellphone. At the same time, Good’s wife also was recording the encounter and can be seen walking around the vehicle and approaching the officer. A series of exchanges occurred:”That’s fine, I’m not mad at you,” Good says as the officer passes by her door. She has one hand on the steering wheel and the other outside the open driver side window.”U.S. citizen, former f—ing veteran,” says her wife, standing outside the passenger side of the SUV holding up her phone. “You wanna come at us, you wanna come at us, I say go get yourself some lunch big boy.”Other officers at the scene are approaching the driver’s side of the car at about the same time and one says: “Get out of the car, get out of the f—ing car.” Good reverses briefly, then turns the steering wheel toward the passenger side as she drives ahead and Ross opens fire.The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.”F—— b—,” someone at the scene says.A crashing sound is heard as Good’s vehicle smashes into others parked on the street.Federal agencies have encouraged officers to document encounters in which people may attempt to interfere with enforcement actions, but policing experts have cautioned that recording on a handheld device can complicate already volatile situations by occupying an officer’s hands and narrowing focus at moments when rapid decision-making is required.Under an ICE policy directive, officers and agents are expected to activate body-worn cameras at the start of enforcement activities and to record throughout interactions, and footage must be kept for review in serious incidents such as deaths or use-of-force cases. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to questions about whether the officer who opened fire or any of the others who were on the scene were wearing body cameras.Homeland Security says video shows self-defenseVice President JD Vance and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in posts on X that the new video backs their contention that the officer fired in self-defense.“Many of you have been told this law enforcement officer wasn’t hit by a car, wasn’t being harassed, and murdered an innocent woman,” Vance said. “The reality is that his life was endangered and he fired in self defense.”Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has said any self-defense argument is “garbage.”Policing experts said the video didn’t change their thoughts on the use-of-force but did raise additional questions about the officer’s training.“Now that we can see he’s holding a gun in one hand and a cellphone in the other filming, I want to see the officer training that permits that,” said Geoff Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina.The video demonstrates that the officers didn’t perceive Good to be a threat, said John P. Gross, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School who has written extensively about officers shooting at moving vehicles.“If you are an officer who views this woman as a threat, you don’t have one hand on a cellphone. You don’t walk around this supposed weapon, casually filming,” Gross said. Attempts to reach Ross at phone numbers and email addresses associated with him were not successful. Prosecutor asks for video and evidenceMeanwhile, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said that although her office has collaborated effectively with the FBI in past cases, she is concerned by the Trump administration’s decision to bar state and local agencies from playing any role in the investigation into Good’s killing.She also said the officer who shot Good in the head does not have complete legal immunity, as Vice President JD Vance declared.Video above: VP Vance addresses, answers questions on ICE shooting in Minneapolis”We do have jurisdiction to make this decision with what happened in this case,” Moriarty said at a news conference. “It does not matter that it was a federal law enforcement agent.”Moriarty said her office would post a link for the public to submit footage of the shooting, even though she acknowledged that she wasn’t sure what legal outcome submissions might produce.Good’s wife, Becca Good, released a statement to Minnesota Public Radio on Friday saying, “kindness radiated out of her.””On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns,” Becca Good said.”I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him,” she wrote.The reaction to Good’s shooting was immediate in the city where police killed George Floyd in 2020, with hundreds of protesters converging on the shooting scene and the school district canceling classes for the rest of the week as a precaution and offering an online option through Feb. 12.On Friday, protesters were outside a federal facility serving as a hub for the immigration crackdown that began Tuesday in Minneapolis and St. Paul. That evening, hundreds protested outside a hotel in downtown Minneapolis, banging on pots and drums and carrying signs that said, “ICE Out” and “Don’t Shoot.”Video below: Minnesota law enforcement blocked from federal investigation into deadly ICE shooting Shooting in PortlandThe Portland shooting happened outside a hospital Thursday. A federal border officer shot and wounded a man and woman in a vehicle, identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Venezuela nationals Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras. Police said they were in stable condition Friday after surgery, with DHS saying Nico Moncada was taken into FBI custodyDHS defended the actions of its officers in Portland, saying the shooting occurred after the driver with alleged gang ties tried to “weaponize” his vehicle to hit them. It said no officers were injured.Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed that the two people shot had “some nexus” to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. Day said they came to the attention of police during an investigation of a July shooting believed to have been carried out by gang members, but they were not identified as suspects.The chief said any gang affiliation did not necessarily justify the shooting by U.S. Border Patrol. The Oregon Department of Justice said it would investigate.The biggest crackdown yetThe Minneapolis shooting happened on the second day of the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities, which Homeland Security said is the biggest immigration enforcement operation ever. More than 2,000 officers are taking part and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said they have made more than 1,500 arrests.The government is also shifting immigration officers to Minneapolis from sweeps in Louisiana, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. This represents a pivot, as the Louisiana crackdown that began in December had been expected to last into February.Good’s death — at least the fifth tied to immigration sweeps since President Donald Trump took office — has resonated far beyond Minneapolis, with protests planned for this weekend, according to Indivisible, a group formed to resist the Trump administration.A deadly encounter seen from multiple anglesNoem, Trump and others in his administration have repeatedly characterized the Minneapolis shooting as an act of self-defense and cast Good as a villain, suggesting she used her vehicle as a weapon to attack the officer who shot her.Several bystanders captured video of Good’s killing, which happened in a neighborhood south of downtown. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said any self-defense argument is “garbage.”The federal agent who fatally shot Good is an Iraq War veteran who has served for nearly two decades in the Border Patrol and ICE, according to records obtained by AP.Noem has not publicly named him, but a Homeland Security spokesperson said her description of his injuries last summer refers to an incident in Bloomington, Minnesota, in which court documents identify him as Ross.Ross got his arm stuck in the window of a vehicle whose driver was fleeing arrest on an immigration violation. Ross was dragged and fired his Taser. A jury found the driver guilty of assault. ___Associated Press reporters Steve Karnowski and Mark Vancleave in Minneapolis; Ed White in Detroit; Valerie Gonzalez in Brownsville, Texas; Graham Lee Brewer in Norman, Oklahoma; Michael Biesecker in Washington; Jim Mustian and Safiyah Riddle in New York; Ryan Foley in Iowa City, Iowa; and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.

    A Minnesota prosecutor on Friday called on the public to share with investigators any recordings and evidence connected to the fatal shooting of Renee Good as a new video emerged showing the final moments of her encounter with an immigration officer.

    Warning: The video above may be graphic to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

    The Minneapolis killing and a separate shooting in Portland, Oregon, a day later by the Border Patrol have set off protests in multiple cities and denunciations of immigration enforcement tactics by the U.S. government. The Trump administration has defended the officer who shot Good in her car, saying he was protecting himself and fellow agents.

    The reaction to the shooting has largely been focused on witness cellphone video of the encounter. A new, 47-second video that was published online by a Minnesota-based conservative news site, Alpha News, and later reposted on social media by the Department of Homeland Security shows the shooting from the perspective of ICE officer Jonathan Ross, who fired the shots.

    Video below: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey holds press conference Friday

    Sirens blaring in the background, he approaches Good’s vehicle in the middle of the road while apparently filming on his cellphone. At the same time, Good’s wife also was recording the encounter and can be seen walking around the vehicle and approaching the officer. A series of exchanges occurred:

    “That’s fine, I’m not mad at you,” Good says as the officer passes by her door. She has one hand on the steering wheel and the other outside the open driver side window.

    “U.S. citizen, former f—ing veteran,” says her wife, standing outside the passenger side of the SUV holding up her phone. “You wanna come at us, you wanna come at us, I say go get yourself some lunch big boy.”

    Other officers at the scene are approaching the driver’s side of the car at about the same time and one says: “Get out of the car, get out of the f—ing car.” Good reverses briefly, then turns the steering wheel toward the passenger side as she drives ahead and Ross opens fire.

    The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.

    “F—— b—,” someone at the scene says.

    A crashing sound is heard as Good’s vehicle smashes into others parked on the street.

    Federal agencies have encouraged officers to document encounters in which people may attempt to interfere with enforcement actions, but policing experts have cautioned that recording on a handheld device can complicate already volatile situations by occupying an officer’s hands and narrowing focus at moments when rapid decision-making is required.

    Under an ICE policy directive, officers and agents are expected to activate body-worn cameras at the start of enforcement activities and to record throughout interactions, and footage must be kept for review in serious incidents such as deaths or use-of-force cases. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to questions about whether the officer who opened fire or any of the others who were on the scene were wearing body cameras.

    Homeland Security says video shows self-defense

    Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in posts on X that the new video backs their contention that the officer fired in self-defense.

    “Many of you have been told this law enforcement officer wasn’t hit by a car, wasn’t being harassed, and murdered an innocent woman,” Vance said. “The reality is that his life was endangered and he fired in self defense.”

    Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has said any self-defense argument is “garbage.”

    Policing experts said the video didn’t change their thoughts on the use-of-force but did raise additional questions about the officer’s training.

    “Now that we can see he’s holding a gun in one hand and a cellphone in the other filming, I want to see the officer training that permits that,” said Geoff Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina.

    The video demonstrates that the officers didn’t perceive Good to be a threat, said John P. Gross, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School who has written extensively about officers shooting at moving vehicles.

    “If you are an officer who views this woman as a threat, you don’t have one hand on a cellphone. You don’t walk around this supposed weapon, casually filming,” Gross said.

    Attempts to reach Ross at phone numbers and email addresses associated with him were not successful.

    Prosecutor asks for video and evidence

    Meanwhile, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said that although her office has collaborated effectively with the FBI in past cases, she is concerned by the Trump administration’s decision to bar state and local agencies from playing any role in the investigation into Good’s killing.

    She also said the officer who shot Good in the head does not have complete legal immunity, as Vice President JD Vance declared.

    Video above: VP Vance addresses, answers questions on ICE shooting in Minneapolis

    “We do have jurisdiction to make this decision with what happened in this case,” Moriarty said at a news conference. “It does not matter that it was a federal law enforcement agent.”

    Moriarty said her office would post a link for the public to submit footage of the shooting, even though she acknowledged that she wasn’t sure what legal outcome submissions might produce.

    Good’s wife, Becca Good, released a statement to Minnesota Public Radio on Friday saying, “kindness radiated out of her.”

    “On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns,” Becca Good said.

    “I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him,” she wrote.

    The reaction to Good’s shooting was immediate in the city where police killed George Floyd in 2020, with hundreds of protesters converging on the shooting scene and the school district canceling classes for the rest of the week as a precaution and offering an online option through Feb. 12.

    On Friday, protesters were outside a federal facility serving as a hub for the immigration crackdown that began Tuesday in Minneapolis and St. Paul. That evening, hundreds protested outside a hotel in downtown Minneapolis, banging on pots and drums and carrying signs that said, “ICE Out” and “Don’t Shoot.”

    Video below: Minnesota law enforcement blocked from federal investigation into deadly ICE shooting

    Shooting in Portland

    The Portland shooting happened outside a hospital Thursday. A federal border officer shot and wounded a man and woman in a vehicle, identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Venezuela nationals Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras. Police said they were in stable condition Friday after surgery, with DHS saying Nico Moncada was taken into FBI custody

    DHS defended the actions of its officers in Portland, saying the shooting occurred after the driver with alleged gang ties tried to “weaponize” his vehicle to hit them. It said no officers were injured.

    Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed that the two people shot had “some nexus” to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. Day said they came to the attention of police during an investigation of a July shooting believed to have been carried out by gang members, but they were not identified as suspects.

    The chief said any gang affiliation did not necessarily justify the shooting by U.S. Border Patrol. The Oregon Department of Justice said it would investigate.

    The biggest crackdown yet

    The Minneapolis shooting happened on the second day of the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities, which Homeland Security said is the biggest immigration enforcement operation ever. More than 2,000 officers are taking part and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said they have made more than 1,500 arrests.

    The government is also shifting immigration officers to Minneapolis from sweeps in Louisiana, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. This represents a pivot, as the Louisiana crackdown that began in December had been expected to last into February.

    Good’s death — at least the fifth tied to immigration sweeps since President Donald Trump took office — has resonated far beyond Minneapolis, with protests planned for this weekend, according to Indivisible, a group formed to resist the Trump administration.

    A deadly encounter seen from multiple angles

    Noem, Trump and others in his administration have repeatedly characterized the Minneapolis shooting as an act of self-defense and cast Good as a villain, suggesting she used her vehicle as a weapon to attack the officer who shot her.

    Several bystanders captured video of Good’s killing, which happened in a neighborhood south of downtown. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said any self-defense argument is “garbage.”

    The federal agent who fatally shot Good is an Iraq War veteran who has served for nearly two decades in the Border Patrol and ICE, according to records obtained by AP.

    Noem has not publicly named him, but a Homeland Security spokesperson said her description of his injuries last summer refers to an incident in Bloomington, Minnesota, in which court documents identify him as Ross.

    Ross got his arm stuck in the window of a vehicle whose driver was fleeing arrest on an immigration violation. Ross was dragged and fired his Taser. A jury found the driver guilty of assault.

    ___

    Associated Press reporters Steve Karnowski and Mark Vancleave in Minneapolis; Ed White in Detroit; Valerie Gonzalez in Brownsville, Texas; Graham Lee Brewer in Norman, Oklahoma; Michael Biesecker in Washington; Jim Mustian and Safiyah Riddle in New York; Ryan Foley in Iowa City, Iowa; and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.

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  • Stephen A. Smith doubles down on calling ICE shooting in Minneapolis ‘completely justified’

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    Stephen A. Smith is arguably the most-well known sports commentator in the country. But the outspoken ESPN commentator’s perspective outside the sports arena has landed him in a firestorm.

    The furor is due to his pointed comments defending an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot a Minneapolis woman driving away from him.

    Just hours after the shooting on Wednesday, Smith said on his SiriusXM “Straight Shooter” talk show that although the killing of Renee Nicole Good was “completely unnecessary,” he added that the agent “from a lawful perspective” was “completely justified” in firing his gun at her.

    He also noted, “From a humanitarian perspective, however, why did he have to do that?”

    Smith’s comments about the agent being in harm’s way echoed the views of Deputy of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said Good engaged in an “act of domestic terrorism” by attacking officers and attempting to run them over with her vehicle.

    However, videos showing the incident from different angles indicate that the agent was not standing directly in front of Good’s vehicle when he opened fire on her. Local officials contend that Good posed no danger to ICE officers. A video posted by partisan media outlet Alpha News showed Good talking to agents before the shooting, saying, “I’m not mad at you.”

    The shooting has sparked major protests and accusations from local officials that the presence of ICE has been disruptive and escalated violence. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frye condemned ICE, telling agents to “get the f— out of our city.”

    The incident, in turn, has put a harsher spotlight on Smith, raising questions on whether he was reckless or irresponsible in offering his views on Good’s shooting when he had no direct knowledge of what had transpired.

    An angered Smith appeared on his “Straight Shooter” show on YouTube on Friday, saying the full context of his comments had not been conveyed in media reports, specifically calling out the New York Post and media personality Keith Olbermann, while saying that people were trying to get him fired.

    He also doubled down on his contention that Good provoked the situation that led to her death, saying the ICE agent was in front of Good’s car and would have been run over had he not stepped out of the way.

    “In the moment when you are dealing with law enforcement officials, you obey their orders so you can get home safely,” he said. “Renee Good did not do that.”

    When reached for comment about his statements, a representative for Smith said his response was in Friday’s show.

    It’s not the first time Smith, who has suggested he’s interesting in going into politics, has sparked outside the sports universe. He and journalist Joy Reid publicly quarreled following her exit last year from MSNBC.

    He also faced backlash from Black media personalities and others when he accused Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas of using “street verbiage” in her frequent criticisms of President Trump.

    “The way that Jasmine Crockett chooses to express herself … Aren’t you there to try and get stuff done instead of just being an impediment? ‘I’m just going to go off about Trump, cuss him out every chance I get, say the most derogatory things imaginable, and that’s my day’s work?’ That ain’t work! Work is, this is the man in power. I know what his agenda is. Maybe I try to work with this man. I might get something out of it for my constituents.’ ”

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  • Minneapolis mayor says ICE officer’s killing of a motorist ‘reckless,’ wasn’t self-defense | LIVE

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    MINNEAPOLIS — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a Minneapolis motorist on Wednesday during the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown on a major American city – a shooting that federal officials claimed was an act of self-defense but that the city’s mayor described as “reckless” and unnecessary.

    The shooting happened in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis, just a few blocks from some of the oldest immigrant markets in the area and a mile (1.6 kilometers) from where George Floyd was killed by police in 2020.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, during a visit to Texas, described the incident as an “act of domestic terrorism” carried out against ICE officers by a woman who “attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot, to protect himself and the people around him.”

    People protest as law enforcement officers attend to the scene of the shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis.

    AP Photo/Tom Baker

    But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey blasted that characterization and the federal deployment of more than 2,000 officers as part of the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

    “They are not here to cause safety in this city. What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust,” Frey said, calling on the federal agents to leave the city. “They’re ripping families apart. They’re sowing chaos on our streets and in this case quite literally killing people.”

    RELATED: Tim Walz, Democrats’ 2024 VP candidate, won’t run for a third term as Minnesota governor

    “They are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense. Having seen the video myself, I wanna tell everybody directly, that is bullshit,” the mayor said.

    The shooting marks a dramatic escalation of the latest in a series of immigration enforcement operations in major American cities under the Trump administration. It’s at least the fifth person killed in a handful of states since 2024.

    The Twin Cities have been on edge since DHS announced Tuesday that it had launched the operation, with more than 2,000 agents and officers expected to participate in the crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.

    A bullet hole is seen in the windshield as law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis.

    A bullet hole is seen in the windshield as law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting involving federal law enforcement agents.

    AP Photo/Tom Baker

    A large throng of protesters gathered at the scene after the shooting, where they vented their anger at the local and federal officers who were there, including Gregory Bovino, a senior U.S. Customs and Border Patrol official who has been the face of crackdowns in Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere.

    In a scene that hearkened back to the Los Angeles and Chicago crackdowns, bystanders heckled the officers and blew whistles that have become ubiquitous during the operations.

    “Shame! Shame! Shame!” and “ICE out of Minnesota!” they loudly chanted from behind the police tape.

    During her Texas visit, Noem confirmed that DHS had deployed more than 2,000 officers to the Twin Cities and already made “hundreds and hundreds” of arrests.

    For nearly a year, migrant rights advocates and neighborhood activists across the Twin Cities have been preparing to mobilize in the event of an immigration enforcement surge. From houses of worship to mobile home parks, they have set up very active online networks, scanned license plates for possible federal vehicles and bought whistles and other noise-making devices to alert neighborhoods of any enforcement presence.

    On Tuesday night, the Immigration Defense Network, a coalition of groups serving immigrants in Minnesota, held a training session for about 100 people who were willing to hit the streets to monitor the federal enforcement operation.

    “I feel like I’m an ordinary person, and I have the ability do something so I need to do it,” Mary Moran told KMSP-TV.

    Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Armed woman injured in Brighton Park shooting involving federal agents, DHS says

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — A woman was injured in a shooting involving federal agents on Chicago’s Southwest Side on Saturday morning, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

    DHS said its officers were patrolling in the area of 39th Street and South Kedzie Avenue in the city’s Brighton Park neighborhood when they were rammed by vehicles and “boxed in” by 10 vehicles.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    One of the drivers involved in the car-ramming was armed with a semi-automatic weapon, DHS said, and officers fired “defensive shots.”

    The allegedly armed woman, a U.S. citizen, was injured and took herself to the hospital for treatment, DHS said.

    DHS also said the woman is accused of doxing agents and using vulgar language toward them online.

    No officers were injured.

    “Pritzker’s Chicago Police Department is leaving the shooting scene and refuses to assist us in securing the area. There is a growing crowd and we are deploying special operations to control the scene,” DHS said.

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    WLS

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  • Illinois officials demand release of video in deadly shooting involving ICE officer in Franklin Park

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    FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. (WLS) — An Illinois congressman is among those who are calling for all video of the deadly shooting involving an ICE officer in the west suburbs to be released by federal officials.

    The shooting happened in Franklin Park on Friday.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said its officers were conducting “targeted law enforcement activity,” and during a vehicle stop, a man, who ICE says was a suspect, resisted arrest and tried to drive his car into the arrest team.

    The man struck an officer, dragging him as he tried to flee the scene, ICE said. The officer shot the man, who was later identified as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez. The Department of Homeland Security described him as an undocumented immigrant with a criminal history of reckless driving.

    ICE said the man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The officer suffered severe injuries and is stable, ICE and DHS said.

    Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García says all video of the incident should be released.

    “We want to know everything about what occurred and for all evidence to be put forward publicly so the public can make its own conclusions, but this was totally preventable, unnecessary and most tragic,” García said.

    Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has also called for transparency in the investigation into the shooting.

    ABC7 reached out to ICE for comment and to see if the officers involved were wearing cameras, but has not yet heard back yet.

    The family of Villegas-Gonzalez told ABC7 he was a father from Mexico, working at a restaurant in the Portage Park area, and has been in the United States for decades. His shooting death is sparking outrage.

    This deadly encounter came as ICE operations have ramped in the Chicago area within the last few weeks. Around 300 ICE agents are stationed just north of city.

    To the man’s girlfriend and stepdaughter, Villegas-Gonzalez was a working 38-year-old father of three from Mexico who’s lived in the United States for more than 20 years.

    Cellphone video obtained by ABC 7 showed the moment with ICE officers removed the man from his crashed car near Grand and Elder Lane.

    “He got a hole on his head and bleeding, so both men, they tried to help and cover with a band-aid, his neck,” witness Victoria Connolly said.

    Congressman García spoke at the scene Friday with other politicians, shortly after flying from the nation’s capital.

    “Look, without a doubt, there’s massive racial, ethnic profiling that’s taking place and it’s shameful,” García said.

    Governor Pritzker posted a statement to X Friday, saying, “I am aware of the troubling incident that has unfolded in Franklin Park. This is a developing situation and the people of Illinois deserve a full, factual accounting of what’s happened today to ensure transparency and accountability.”

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  • Officers appear to use pepper balls against protesters at Broadview ICE facility: LIVE

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    BROADVIEW, Ill. (WLS) — Reps. Chuy Garcia and Delia Ramirez are expected to speak outside the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility about recent operations in the area later Saturday morning.

    Protesters gathered outside that ICE detention center on Friday, with video showing what appears to be pepper balls being used against some of the demonstrators that evening. Video also shows at least one demonstrator being dragged away.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    Demonstrations were also seen in other northwest suburbs on Friday night after an ICE agent allegedly shot a man to death in Franklin Park earlier in the day.

    Reps. Chuy Garcia and Delia Ramirez are expected to speak Saturday outside the Broadview ICE facility, where an anti-ICE protest got underway Friday.

    Federal agents say they were trying to make a traffic stop when Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a man the Department of Homeland Security says was undocumented with a criminal history of reckless driving, allegedly drove at the officer, dragging him in the process.

    SEE ALSO | Chicago federal intervention: Tracking surge in immigration enforcement operations | Live updates

    That’s when, officials say, the officer fired shots, striking Villegas-Gonzalez, who later died at the hospital.

    Cellphone video obtained by ABC7 shows the moment ICE officers removed the man from his crashed car near Grand and Elder Lane. ABC7 froze the video since it is too graphic to show.

    DHS said in a statement, in part, “We are praying for the speedy recovery of our law enforcement officer. He followed his training, used appropriate force, and properly enforced the law to protect the public and law enforcement.”

    READ MORE | U.S. reps. denied access to Broadview immigration facility; Speaker Johnson tours Chicago ICE office

    Villegas-Gonzalez’ girlfriend and stepdaughter, who asked ABC7 not to show their faces, say he was a working 38-year-old father of three from Mexico who has lived in the United States for more than 20 years.

    Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called Friday’s events in Franklin Park troubling.

    Meanwhile, a group of local Catholics will gather for what organizers are calling a people’s Mass outside Naval Station Great Lakes, which is hosting federal immigration agents as they carry out operations in the Chicago area.

    The Mass, set to begin at 10 a.m., will serve as a peaceful and spiritual protest against the Trump administration’s mobilization of ICE to Chicago.

    RELATED | Broadview protesters demand release of Chicago mother detained by ICE during routine check-in

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    Christian Piekos

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