A federal appeals court has ruled that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may continue sharing certain taxpayer information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), rejecting a bid by immigrant rights groups to halt the policy.
In a decision Tuesday by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, judges declined to grant a preliminary injunction sought by plaintiffs including Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and other nonprofit organizations challenging the interagency data-sharing agreement.
Judge Harry T. Edwards denied the preliminary injunction request, stating that the nonprofit groups “are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their claim” because the information being shared by the agencies is not protected under the IRS privacy statute.
Why It Matters
The agreement allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to submit the names and addresses of individuals suspected of residing in the United States illegally to the Internal Revenue Service for cross-verification against tax records. The decision is a major win for the Trump administration as it pushes forward with it’s deportation program.
What To Know
The arrangement, signed in April 2025 by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is part of broader federal efforts to identify individuals subject to immigration enforcement and carry out removal orders.
The Trump administration has argued that the agreement facilitates immigration enforcement and supports broader border security goals.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, reacting to the appeals court decision on social media, said the outcome was a “crucial victory” for the administration.
Critics argue that sharing confidential tax information for immigration enforcement undermines long-standing privacy protections and could deter undocumented immigrants from filing tax returns. Federal law generally prohibits the disclosure of sensitive tax data except in limited circumstances.
Court filings indicate that in responding to ICE requests, the IRS was able to verify only about 47,000 of the roughly 1.28 million names submitted by ICE, and in fewer than 5 percent of those cases provided additional address information, raising concerns that privacy rules may have been violated.
What People Are Saying
Attorney General Pamela Bondi wrote in a post on X: “Today’s court decision allowing @USTreasury to share IRS data with @ICEgov is a crucial victory for President Trump’s agenda to Make America Safe Again. It also reaffirms a simple truth: laws set by Congress must be enforced, not undermined by activist judges.”
Tom Bowman, policy counsel for the Center for Democracy & Technology, said in a statement shared with Newsweek: “This privacy failure is a stark reminder of why safeguards for sensitive data are so critical. The improper sharing of taxpayer data is unsafe, unlawful, and subject to serious criminal penalties. Once taxpayer data is opened to immigration enforcement, mistakes are inevitable and the consequences fall on innocent people.”
A special education teacher was killed in a car crash in Savannah, Georgia, on Monday morning that involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security said Linda Davis, 52, died after Oscar Vasquez-Lopez, a 38-year-old man from Guatemala whom ICE was trying to arrest, “fled the scene, making a reckless U-turn and running a red light, colliding into a civilian vehicle.”
Although the collision occurred near Herman W. Hesse K-8 School, students were not present as Monday was a federal holiday, the school said.
The Chatham County Police Department said Vasquez-Lopez was in custody and had been charged with reckless driving, driving without a valid license, failure to obey a traffic control device and homicide by vehicle-1st degree.
“However, the Chatham County Police Department was not a part of the DHS/ICE operation, attempted traffic stop, or pursuit. The Chatham County Police Department was also not aware of the DHS/ICE operation or pursuit until after the crash,” the department said.
Davis’ death has called attention to the dangers of vehicular pursuits.
“We have a no-chase policy [in Chatham County], and the no-chase policy is to help protect our citizens more than it is anything else,” Chester Ellis, chairman of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, told WTOC-TV.
Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley told the local news outlet that Davis’ death was “more than likely preventable.”
Conversely, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin rejected any ICE culpability in Davis’ death.
“This vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest — a felony,” McLaughlin said. “These dangerous tactics are putting people’s lives at risk. Fleeing from and resisting federal law enforcement is not only a crime but extraordinarily dangerous and puts oneself, our officers, and innocent civilians at risk. Now, an innocent bystander has lost their life.”
Davis had worked at Herman W. Hesse K-8 School since the beginning of the school year. Principal Alonna McMullen described her as an “exceptional educator.”
“She dedicated her career to ensuring that every child felt supported, valued, and capable of success,” McMullen said in a statement. “Her kindness, patience, and enthusiasm created a nurturing environment for her students and inspired those around her.”
In a Facebookpost, McMullen informed parents of Davis’ death and said counseling would be offered.
“The most important thing we can do is to be supportive and encourage an open expression of feelings,” McMullen said in the post.
Aisha Buchanan, a former co-worker, said Davis always made people feel like they mattered.
“Whether they’re a custodian or a teacher, a principal or even a student, you always matter. And that was her message to everybody,” Buchanan said, per WTOC.
The Department of Homeland Security has been increasing pressure on tech companies to identify the owners of social media accounts that criticize Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to The New York Times.
Now the NYT says a practice that was previously used sparingly has become increasingly common in recent months, with the department sending hundreds of these subpoenas to Google, Reddit, Discord, and Meta. The subpoenas reportedly focused on accounts that did not have a real name attached and either criticized ICE or described the location of ICE agents.
Google, Meta, and Reddit have reportedly complied in at least some cases. Echoing past comments, Google said that it informs users of these subpoenas when it can, and that it pushes back when the subpoenas are “overbroad.”
Tom Homan, White House border czar, speaks at a press conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on February 12, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
On Thursday, border czar Tom Homan announced the end of Operation Metro Surge, the federal operation that brought thousands of immigration officers into Minnesota and which resulted in widespread claims of brutal tactics and the deaths of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.
At a press conference, Homan touted the success of the operation, asserting that the Trump administration had seen an “unprecedented level of coordination with law enforcement officials” on the ground and claiming that federal authorities had made more than 4,000 arrests of murderers, sex offenders, and other violent criminals. Earlier this month, Homan directed the withdrawal of 700 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.
“A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue through the next week,” he said.
According to Homan, a “small footprint of personnel” will remain on the ground in Minnesota to help transition operations back to the local ICE field office and monitor “agitator activity.” He said officers that are part of the drawdown will return to their home office or be reassigned to help further President Donald Trump’s immigration aims, though he did not provide a specific timetable for the withdrawal. Federal authorities involved with the prosecutions of ICE protesters as well as the government’s ongoing investigation into alleged fraud within Minnesota’s social-services programs will “remain in place until their work is done.”
“I will also remain on the ground for a little longer to oversee the drawdown of this operation and ensure its success,” Homan said.
While the monthslong operation was faced with strong local opposition and allegations of aggressive tactics by ICE agents against residents regardless of immigration status, Homan denounced what he called “unfounded complaints” against the agency, claiming officers never made arrests in churches or hospitals — while claiming such actions would be warranted if they did.
“However, those locations are not off the table. I said on day one, there’s no sanctuary for a significant public safety threat or national security threat. But as far as those stories about ICE going into churches or arresting people in hospitals, it simply has not happened,” Homan said.
He continued, “ICE is a legitimate federal law-enforcement agency. We’re not out scouring the streets to disappear people or deny people their civil right to due process.”
Minnesota governor Tim Walz addressed Homan’s announcement at a press briefing Wednesday, saying that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the government’s claims. But he was blunt about the impact of the Trump administration’s operation in the state, saying Minnesotans were the target of an “unprecedented federal invasion in all aspects of life.”
“But the fact of the matter is they left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin in some cases. They left us with many unanswered questions,” Walz said. “Where are our children? Where and what is the process of the investigations into those that were responsible for the deaths of Renee and Alex? So, while the federal government may move on to whatever next thing they want to do, the state of Minnesota and our administration is unwaveringly focused on the recovery of what they did.”
Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, whose city faced the brunt of the federal government’s ire, issued a statement praising his constituents for their resiliency, saying the enforcement surge has been “catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses.”
“They thought they could break us, but a love for our neighbors and a resolve to endure can outlast an occupation,” Frey said.
But Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota congresswoman whose district encompasses Minneapolis, said putting an end to Operation Metro Surge is “not enough.”
“We need justice and accountability. That starts with independent investigations into the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, economic restitution for businesses impacted, abolishing ICE, and the impeachment of Kristi Noem,” she said in a statement.
There are just 16 Flock Safety cameras in Thornton.
But those electronic eyes, mounted to poles at intersections throughout this city of nearly 150,000, brought out dozens of people to the Thornton Community Center for a discussion on how the controversial license plate-reading cameras are being used — and whether they should be used at all.
Law enforcement agencies cite the automatic license-plate readers, or ALPRs, as a powerful tool that bolsters their ability to locate and stop suspects who may be on their way to committing their next assault or robbery.
But Meg Moore, a six-year resident of the city who is helping spearhead opposition to Flock cameras, said she worries about how the rapidly spreading surveillance system is impacting residents’ privacy and Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Thornton’s Flock camera data can be seen by more than 1,600 other law enforcement agencies across the country.
“We want to make sure this is truly safe and effective,” she said in an interview.
The debate over Atlanta-based Flock Safety’s cameras, which not only can record license plate numbers but can search for the specific characteristics of a vehicle linked to an alleged crime, has been picking up steam in recent years. The discussions have largely played out in metro Denver and Front Range cities in recent months, but this year they reached the state Capitol, where lawmakers are pitching a couple of bills to tighten up rules around surveillance.
In Denver, Mayor Mike Johnston has been butting heads with the City Council over the issue. Johnston is so convinced of Flock’s value in combating crime that in October, he extended the contract with the company against the wishes of much of the council. Denver has 111 Flock cameras.
In Longmont, elected leaders took a different approach. Its City Council voted in December to pause all sharing of Flock Safety data with other municipalities, declined an expansion of its contract with the company and began searching for an alternative.
Louisville beat its Boulder County neighbor to the punch by several months, disabling its Flock cameras at the end of June and removing them by the start of October. City spokesman Derek Cosson said privacy concerns from residents largely drove the city’s decision.
Steve Mathias, a Thornton resident for nearly a decade, would like to see Flock’s cameras gone from his city. Short of that, he said, reliable controls on how the streetside data is collected, stored and shared are paramount.
“In our rush to make our community safe, we’re not getting the full picture of the risks we’re facing,” he said. “We’re making ourselves safe in some ways by making ourselves less safe in others.”
The hot-button debate in Thornton played out at last month’s community meeting and continued at a City Council meeting last week, where the city’s Police Department gave a presentation on the Flock system.
Cmdr. Chad Parker laid out several examples of Flock’s cameras being instrumental in apprehending bad actors — in cases ranging from homicide to sex assault to child exploitation to a $5,700 theft at a Nike store.
As recently as Monday, Thornton police announced on X that investigators had tracked down a man suspected of hitting and killing a 14-year-old boy who was riding a small motorized bike over the weekend. The agency said a Flock camera in Thornton gave officers a “strong lead” in identifying the hit-and-run suspect within 24 hours.
At the Feb. 3 council study session, police Chief Jim Baird described Flock’s camera system as “one of the best tools I’ve seen in 32 years of law enforcement.”
But that doesn’t sway those in Thornton who are wary of the camera network.
“I’m not a fan of building toward a surveillance state,” Mathias said.
The hazards of a system like Flock, he said, lie not just in the pervasive data-collection methods the company uses but also in who eventually might get to see and use that data — be it a rogue law enforcement officer or a hacker who manages to break into Flock’s database.
“A person who wants us to do us harm with this system will have as much capability as the police have to do good,” he said.
A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen on a street light post on Ken Pratt Boulevard near the intersection with U.S. 287 in Longmont on Dec. 10, 2025. (Matthew Jonas/Daily Camera)
Crime-fighting tool or prone to misuse?
In November, a Columbine Valley police officer was disciplined after he accused a Denver woman of theft based in large part on evidence from Flock cameras, according to reporting from Fox31. The officer mistakenly claimed the woman had stolen a $25 package in a nearby town and said he’d used Flock cameras to track her car.
“It’s putting too much trust in the hands of people who don’t know what they’re doing,” DeFlock’s Will Freeman said of so many police agencies’ adoption of the technology.
Last summer, 9News reported that the Loveland Police Department had shared access to its Flock camera system with U.S. Border Patrol. That came two months after the station reported that the department gave the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives access to its account, which ATF agents then used to conduct searches for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Parker, the Thornton police commander, said any searches connected to immigration cases or to women from out of state who are seeking an abortion in Colorado — another scenario that’s been raised — “won’t ever touch our system.” State laws restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities and with other states’ abortion-related investigations.
“Any situation I feel uncomfortable about or that might be in conflict with our policies or with Colorado law, I will revoke their access — no problem,” he said.
Thornton deputy city attorney Adam Stephens said motorists’ Fourth Amendment rights are not being violated by the city’s Flock camera network. During last week’s meeting, he cited several recent court cases that, in essence, determined that there is no right to privacy while driving down a public roadway.
In an interview, Stephens said Thornton was “in compliance with the law.”
Flock spokesman Paris Lewbel wrote in an email that the company was “proud to partner with the Thornton Police Department to provide technology used to investigate and solve crimes and to help locate missing persons.”
Lewbel provided links to two news stories about minor children who were abducted and then found with the help of Flock’s cameras in Thornton and elsewhere.
At the council’s study session last week, Parker provided more examples of Flock’s role in fighting crime and finding missing people in Thornton. They included police nabbing a suspect who had hit and killed a pedestrian, locating a burglar who was suspected of robbing several dispensaries, and tracking down an 89-year-old man with dementia who had gotten into his car and gotten lost.
“It allows us to find vehicles in a manner we weren’t able to previously,” Parker said of the camera network.
Thornton installed its first 10 Flock cameras in 2022 and then added five more — plus a mobile unit — two years later. The initial deployment was in response to a spike in auto thefts in the city, which peaked at 1,205 in 2022 (amid an overall surge in Colorado). Thornton recorded 536 auto thefts last year.
The city says Flock cameras have been involved in 200 cases that resulted in an arrest or a warrant application in Thornton over the last three years.
Thornton police have access to nearly 2,200 other agencies’ Flock systems across the United States, while nearly 1,650 law enforcement agencies can access Thornton’s Flock data, according to data provided by the city.
For Anaya Robinson, the public policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, the networked nature of Flock cameras across wide geographies is a big part of the problem. By linking one police agency’s Flock technology with that of thousands of other police departments, it “creates a surveillance environment that could violate the Fourth Amendment.”
The sweeping nature of Flock’s surveillance is also worrisome, Robinson said.
“You’re not just collecting the data of vehicles that ping (a police department’s) hot list (of suspicious vehicles), you’re collecting the data of every vehicle that is caught on a Flock camera,” he said.
And because the technology is relatively inexpensive — Thornton pays $48,500 to Flock annually for its system — it’s an affordable crime-fighting tool for most communities. But that doesn’t mean it should be deployed, DeFlock’s Freeman said.
Fight remains a largely local one
State lawmakers are crafting bills this session to limit the reach of surveillance technologies like Flock’s.
Senate Bill 70 would put limits on access to databases and the sharing of information. It would prohibit a government from accessing a database that reveals an individual’s or a vehicle’s historical location information, and it would prohibit sharing that information with third parties or with government agencies outside the controlling entity’s jurisdiction. Certain exceptions would apply.
Senate Bill 71 would direct a “law enforcement agency to use surveillance technology only for lawful purposes directly related to public safety or for an active investigation.” It also would forbid the use of facial-recognition technology without a warrant and would place limits on the amount of time data can be retained.
Both bills await their first committee hearings.
Thornton says it doesn’t use facial recognition technology. Its Flock data is retained for 30 days.
Regardless of what passes at the state Capitol, the real fight over license plate readers of any type will likely continue to happen at the local level. Thornton’s council plans further discussions on Flock next month.
For Moore, the resident who is leading the charge against the cameras, potential surveillance of the immigrant community is what troubles her the most.
“We want to make sure we’re operating this so that it’s safe for all of our residents,” she said. “Getting rid of the cameras altogether is a tough sell. But there needs to be a conversation about guardrails.”
Mayor Pro Tem Roberta Ayala, a Thornton native, said she has heard a wide array of opinions from her constituents about the advantages and potential downsides of the technology.
“Could it be misused? Yes. Do we want to stop that? Yes,” she said.
But as a victim of crime herself, Ayala also knows the immense damage and disruption that crime causes victims and their families, be it a stolen vehicle or something much worse. And as a teacher, Ayala is concerned about achieving justice for the families of children who are harmed or abused.
“If it can save even five kids,” she said, “I want the cameras.”
Eight people from metro Denver were indicted on federal charges related to drug trafficking, weapons and money laundering, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado said Thursday.
The suspects — all current or former residents of Denver, Aurora, Commerce City and Wheat Ridge — are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth, fentanyl and cocaine, federal officials said in a news release.
Law enforcement officers arrested Dario Perez Quintero, 34; Guadalupe Mendoza Martinez, 46; Pedro Mendoza Martinez, 54; Abimael Felix Luque, 32; David Uvaldo Mora Sanchez, 32; Hector Joel Quijada Portillo, 30; Oscar Noel Ruelas Molina, 44; and Jose Alexis Guzman Felix, 30, this week, according to court records.
The indictment, filed Tuesday, includes additional charges related to drug possession and distribution, illegal firearm possession and money laundering, but it does not detail how investigators determined the eight suspects were identified as being involved in the scheme.
They face up to life in prison if convicted on the first count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute, federal officials said.
The case was investigated by multiple federal agencies through the Homeland Security Task Force, including Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Judge says she won’t halt Minnesota immigration enforcement surge as a lawsuit proceeds
The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope
This 13 page document lays out DHS policy for use of force. Now these rules apply to Customs and Border Protection, ICE, and Secret Service and make it clear what protocols agents should follow before any use of force is applied. And while it’s easy to look back and replay video over and over after the fact, experts we talked to told us agents need to rely on these policies and training, especially in critical moments. Unfortunately, It, it’s for me as *** field office director, this all of this is very um upsetting. Darius Reeves, *** former ICE field office director, spent nearly 20 years with ICE and Homeland Security, *** time when he says their operations were not drawing public attention. No one had any idea about ICE. We were very professional, we were very clean, and this is. There are far too many US citizens being involved. What troubles Reeves now isn’t just the outcome of recent encounters, but whether ICE and Border Patrol are following their own use of force and de-escalation policies. When is use of force an option? If it’s an immediate Imminent threat. The National Investigative Unit reviewed the Department of Homeland Security’s use of force policy alongside video from the two recent killings of Alex Preddy and Renee Good and talked with experts including Reeves. DHS policy is clear officers should attempt de-escalation, issue verbal commands, reassess when resistance stops, and discontinue force once an incident is under control. Video from the encounter involving 30 seven-year-old Alex Preddy shows in the minute before the shooting, Preddy is recording from *** distance. Agents push *** woman who grabs onto Preddy. He’s then pushed. An agent pushes another woman near Preddy, who then steps in with an open hand up, then turns away from the agent as he’s sprayed with *** chemical. They continually sprayed him even when his back was to them, and then everybody piles on. Based on the video we’ve seen, in your opinion. Was deadly force used correctly on Alex Peretti? Absolutely not. The second case involving Renee Good raises *** different policy question. DHS rules place strict limits on the use of deadly force in and around vehicles. Mark Brown used to train ICE agents and explains the strict rules. The general practice was that They went away from shooting in the moving vehicles. Reeves and Brown add that incidents need to be carefully examined afterward to prevent future violations. Are we debriefing every day after, you know, to see, OK, what are we doing for our own accountability? This is *** major travesty, um. And you, you’re going to have to stick to the policy. The DHS policy states that every agent must be trained in use of force and de-escalation policies at least once *** year, and every 2 years they must conduct less than lethal force training. The policy we reviewed was last updated in 2023. Reporting in Washington, I’m national investigative correspondent John Cardinelli.
Judge says she won’t halt Minnesota immigration enforcement surge as a lawsuit proceeds
The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope
A federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.Video above: Examining DHS use-of-force policiesA federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.Judge Katherine M. Menendez on Saturday denied a preliminary injunction sought in a lawsuit filed this month by state Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul.It argued that the Department of Homeland Security is violating constitutional protections. The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope. Lawyers with the U.S. Department of Justice have called the lawsuit “legally frivolous.”The ruling on the injunction focused on the argument by Minnesota officials that the federal government is violating the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits the federal government’s powers to infringe on the sovereignty of states. In her ruling, the judge relied heavily on whether that argument was likely to ultimately succeed in court.The federal government argued that the surge, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, is necessary in its effort to take criminal immigrants off the streets and because federal efforts have been hindered by state and local “sanctuary laws and policies.” State and local officials argued that the surge is retaliation after the federal government’s initial attempts to withhold federal funding to try to force immigration cooperation failed.”Because there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments as to motivation and the relative merits of each side’s competing positions are unclear, the Court is reluctant to find that the likelihood-of-success factor weighs sufficiently in favor of granting a preliminary injunction,” the judge said in the ruling.U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media Saturday to laud the ruling, calling it “another HUGE” legal win for the Justice Department on X.Federal officers have fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis: Renee Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) —
A federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.
Video above: Examining DHS use-of-force policies
A federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.
Judge Katherine M. Menendez on Saturday denied a preliminary injunction sought in a lawsuit filed this month by state Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
It argued that the Department of Homeland Security is violating constitutional protections. The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope. Lawyers with the U.S. Department of Justice have called the lawsuit “legally frivolous.”
The ruling on the injunction focused on the argument by Minnesota officials that the federal government is violating the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits the federal government’s powers to infringe on the sovereignty of states. In her ruling, the judge relied heavily on whether that argument was likely to ultimately succeed in court.
The federal government argued that the surge, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, is necessary in its effort to take criminal immigrants off the streets and because federal efforts have been hindered by state and local “sanctuary laws and policies.” State and local officials argued that the surge is retaliation after the federal government’s initial attempts to withhold federal funding to try to force immigration cooperation failed.
“Because there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments as to motivation and the relative merits of each side’s competing positions are unclear, the Court is reluctant to find that the likelihood-of-success factor weighs sufficiently in favor of granting a preliminary injunction,” the judge said in the ruling.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media Saturday to laud the ruling, calling it “another HUGE” legal win for the Justice Department on X.
Federal officers have fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis: Renee Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
Judge says she won’t halt Minnesota immigration enforcement surge as a lawsuit proceeds
The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope
This 13 page document lays out DHS policy for use of force. Now these rules apply to Customs and Border Protection, ICE, and Secret Service and make it clear what protocols agents should follow before any use of force is applied. And while it’s easy to look back and replay video over and over after the fact, experts we talked to told us agents need to rely on these policies and training, especially in critical moments. Unfortunately, It, it’s for me as *** field office director, this all of this is very um upsetting. Darius Reeves, *** former ICE field office director, spent nearly 20 years with ICE and Homeland Security, *** time when he says their operations were not drawing public attention. No one had any idea about ICE. We were very professional, we were very clean, and this is. There are far too many US citizens being involved. What troubles Reeves now isn’t just the outcome of recent encounters, but whether ICE and Border Patrol are following their own use of force and de-escalation policies. When is use of force an option? If it’s an immediate Imminent threat. The National Investigative Unit reviewed the Department of Homeland Security’s use of force policy alongside video from the two recent killings of Alex Preddy and Renee Good and talked with experts including Reeves. DHS policy is clear officers should attempt de-escalation, issue verbal commands, reassess when resistance stops, and discontinue force once an incident is under control. Video from the encounter involving 30 seven-year-old Alex Preddy shows in the minute before the shooting, Preddy is recording from *** distance. Agents push *** woman who grabs onto Preddy. He’s then pushed. An agent pushes another woman near Preddy, who then steps in with an open hand up, then turns away from the agent as he’s sprayed with *** chemical. They continually sprayed him even when his back was to them, and then everybody piles on. Based on the video we’ve seen, in your opinion. Was deadly force used correctly on Alex Peretti? Absolutely not. The second case involving Renee Good raises *** different policy question. DHS rules place strict limits on the use of deadly force in and around vehicles. Mark Brown used to train ICE agents and explains the strict rules. The general practice was that They went away from shooting in the moving vehicles. Reeves and Brown add that incidents need to be carefully examined afterward to prevent future violations. Are we debriefing every day after, you know, to see, OK, what are we doing for our own accountability? This is *** major travesty, um. And you, you’re going to have to stick to the policy. The DHS policy states that every agent must be trained in use of force and de-escalation policies at least once *** year, and every 2 years they must conduct less than lethal force training. The policy we reviewed was last updated in 2023. Reporting in Washington, I’m national investigative correspondent John Cardinelli.
Judge says she won’t halt Minnesota immigration enforcement surge as a lawsuit proceeds
The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope
A federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.Video above: Examining DHS use-of-force policiesA federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.Judge Katherine M. Menendez on Saturday denied a preliminary injunction sought in a lawsuit filed this month by state Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul.It argued that the Department of Homeland Security is violating constitutional protections. The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope. Lawyers with the U.S. Department of Justice have called the lawsuit “legally frivolous.”The ruling on the injunction focused on the argument by Minnesota officials that the federal government is violating the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits the federal government’s powers to infringe on the sovereignty of states. In her ruling, the judge relied heavily on whether that argument was likely to ultimately succeed in court.The federal government argued that the surge, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, is necessary in its effort to take criminal immigrants off the streets and because federal efforts have been hindered by state and local “sanctuary laws and policies.” State and local officials argued that the surge is retaliation after the federal government’s initial attempts to withhold federal funding to try to force immigration cooperation failed.”Because there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments as to motivation and the relative merits of each side’s competing positions are unclear, the Court is reluctant to find that the likelihood-of-success factor weighs sufficiently in favor of granting a preliminary injunction,” the judge said in the ruling.U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media Saturday to laud the ruling, calling it “another HUGE” legal win for the Justice Department on X.Federal officers have fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis: Renee Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) —
A federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.
Video above: Examining DHS use-of-force policies
A federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.
Judge Katherine M. Menendez on Saturday denied a preliminary injunction sought in a lawsuit filed this month by state Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
It argued that the Department of Homeland Security is violating constitutional protections. The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope. Lawyers with the U.S. Department of Justice have called the lawsuit “legally frivolous.”
The ruling on the injunction focused on the argument by Minnesota officials that the federal government is violating the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits the federal government’s powers to infringe on the sovereignty of states. In her ruling, the judge relied heavily on whether that argument was likely to ultimately succeed in court.
The federal government argued that the surge, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, is necessary in its effort to take criminal immigrants off the streets and because federal efforts have been hindered by state and local “sanctuary laws and policies.” State and local officials argued that the surge is retaliation after the federal government’s initial attempts to withhold federal funding to try to force immigration cooperation failed.
“Because there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments as to motivation and the relative merits of each side’s competing positions are unclear, the Court is reluctant to find that the likelihood-of-success factor weighs sufficiently in favor of granting a preliminary injunction,” the judge said in the ruling.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media Saturday to laud the ruling, calling it “another HUGE” legal win for the Justice Department on X.
Federal officers have fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis: Renee Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
A nationwide grassroots protest that had teachers walking in support of immigrant families left parents across Denver expressing a mix of solidarity and frustration over the district’s decision to close some schools and early childhood education centers with little notice.
More than 1,100 teachers, roughly 20 percent of the workforce, called out.
On social media and in interviews, many parents said they supported educators’ walking out but struggled over the last-minute scramble to find child care so they could go to work. One nurse arrived home from her night shift to learn her early childhood center was closed.
Denver Public Schools, with 90,000 students, closed six campuses but announced a two-hour delayed start for other campuses. The district, however, canceled all early childhood programs and center-based programs for students with disabilities.
DPS responded that it was the goal of Superintendent Alex Marrero to provide school on Friday for all students across the district.
“So he waited until the last minute, hoping that the staff would be able to find a way to keep all schools open while providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students, but that wasn’t possible,” said spokesperson Scott Prible. “We understand that the late decision put some parents in a bind, and for that, we are sorry.”
Denver East High School students march from St. John’s Cathedral on Capitol Hill to the Colorado State Capitol, Jan. 30, 2026.Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Chelsea Randall said that while she understood the reason for the walkout, the lack of notice had real consequences.
“Part of me really understands and wants to support the strike/protest, but as a health care worker who couldn’t casually take the day off, it was really stressful to work to find a last-minute arrangement.”
For many parents, the day began with frantic early-morning notifications that upended work schedules.
“I do understand that they have a right to do that, I guess, but it hurts a little that they do not realize that this affects people that already struggle, and one day off work makes a big difference in their finances,” one parent wrote on Facebook.
The situation was the most stressful for early childhood programs and programs for students with disabilities. The district said child programs in centers and based in schools have special staff licensing requirements that are different from other classes and grades. If they can’t meet those requirements because of staffing shortages, they have to close.
A large protest group, mostly made up of students, marches through downtown Denver on a general strike day across the nation against President Donald Trump’s deportation surge. Jan. 30, 2026.Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Some parents at Isabella Bird school found out about the closure as they were leaving for work. Other parents said the district’s approach conflicted with its stated commitment to equity.
“I have a very difficult time when a district preaches that they believe in equity, but they don’t think about how this is going to impact the parents that really depend on this as their child care,” said parent Stephanie, who did not want to give her last name because of negative repercussions at work. “Very frustrating.”
Another Denver parent was out of state and has three children who attend three schools, each of whom had a different schedule on Friday.
“I understand wanting to send a message. I understand wanting to show support for the immigrant community being targeted with violence,” she said. “I am troubled that teachers wanted to do that in a way that feels chaotic, and am troubled that they chose not to do that in a way that supports my students.”
Several families voiced concerns about how closures disproportionately impacted children with disabilities. One former educator of 16 years described the district’s decision to cancel center-based instruction for special needs programs as “unlawful” and a “civil rights violation.”
“The district office chose politics over students’ constitutional and civil rights,” said Wendy Chrisley Weeden. “By canceling education for children not even participating in the National Walkout while other classroom assignments continued, DPS effectively treated special needs students differently and denied them the opportunity to learn.”
A large protest group, mostly made up of students, marches through downtown Denver on a general strike day across the nation against President Donald Trump’s deportation surge. Jan. 30, 2026.Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
DPS’s Pribble said some centers require a small ratio, including one-to-one in some cases. Some special needs centers require a certified health provider to assist with feeding tubs and other needs.
“Rather than putting untrained employees in situations in which they could fail and negatively impact the students, the decision was made to close those centers,” he said. “The decision was not discriminatory; it was done with the best interest of our students in mind.”
Parents of children with chronic medical issues expressed frustration over the district’s rigid attendance policies during such “chaotic” events.
“If my student didn’t have to miss school often for a chronic medical issue (putting him in district cross hairs for attendance) we would have allowed them to stay home or go to the protest with friends,” said Emily Stone.. “The district’s predatory adherence to attendance policies during times like this is problematic.”
Supportive parents
One parent, Rev. Jenny Whitcher, saw the disruption as a necessary part of a social movement.
“Resisting state violence is definitely an inconvenience, but I don’t blame that on DPS or organizers; that blame squarely goes on our country’s current regime … What level of inconvenience and sacrifice are we willing to tolerate to protect each other?”
Sofia Solano, an Aurora parent who, unlike in Denver, had advance notice that Aurora Public Schools was closing, saw the day as a teaching moment for her children.
“To me, having ICE in Colorado and what’s happening in Minneapolis is far more of an inconvenience than having our kids out of school for one day.”
A freshman at East High School wears fuzzy rollerskates as she speaks to an enormous crowd gathered at La Alma-Lincoln Park in protest of President Donald Trump’s deportation surge on Jan. 30, 2026. This, she told them, was her first protest.Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Some parents who work from home teamed up to rotate houses throughout the day so it wasn’t too much of a scramble. Danielle Eberly said she respects that many teachers at her Spanish immersion school are immigrants.
“I wanted to support them in their cause and not make it harder on the school,” she said.
Other parents whose schools stayed open but had limited staff said the community, parents, and former staff volunteered time to help with recess, lunch and transportation to an event. One parent said when Odyssey Elementary notified parents it would be closed, Craftsman & Apprentice stepped up with a donation-based day camp for kids.
In the future, parents hope they can get more notice of closures.
Randi Maves, who has a child in an early childhood center, said she wished the district had planned ahead.
“If they knew there were going to be potential teacher shortages, they should have aligned substitutes earlier in the week.”
Journalist Don Lemon was released from custody Friday after he was arrested and hit with federal civil rights charges over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.Lemon was arrested Thursday while across the country in Los Angeles, while another independent journalist and two protest participants were arrested in Minnesota.The arrests brought sharp criticism from news media advocates and civil rights activists including the Rev. Al Sharpton, who said the Trump administration is taking a “sledgehammer” to “the knees of the First Amendment.”The four were indicted on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is a pastor.In federal court in Los Angeles, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Robbins argued for a $100,000 bond, telling a judge that Lemon “knowingly joined a mob that stormed into a church.” He was released, however, without having to post money and was granted permission to travel to France in June while the case is pending.Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski said Lemon plans to plead not guilty and fight the charges.Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 following a bumpy run as a morning host, has said he has no affiliation with the organization that went into the church, and he was there as a solo journalist chronicling protesters.“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” his lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”Attorney General Pam Bondi promoted the arrests on social media.“Make no mistake. Under President Trump’s leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely,” Bondi said in a video posted online. “And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.”‘Keep trying’Since he left CNN, Lemon has joined the legion of journalists who have gone into business for themselves, posting regularly on YouTube. He hasn’t hidden his disdain for President Donald Trump. Yet during his online show from the church, he said repeatedly: “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” He described the scene before him and interviewed churchgoers and demonstrators.A magistrate judge last week rejected prosecutors’ initial bid to charge the veteran journalist. Shortly after, he predicted on his show that the administration would try again.“And guess what,” he said. “Here I am. Keep trying. That’s not going to stop me from being a journalist. That’s not going to diminish my voice. Go ahead, make me into the new Jimmy Kimmel, if you want. Just do it. Because I’m not going anywhere.”Georgia Fort livestreamed the moments before her arrest, telling viewers that agents were at her door and her First Amendment right as a journalist was being diminished.A judge released Fort, Trahern Crews and Jamael Lundy on bond, rejecting the Justice Department’s attempt to keep them in custody. Not guilty pleas were entered. Fort’s supporters in the courtroom clapped and whooped.“It’s a sinister turn of events in this country,” Fort’s attorney, Kevin Riach, said in court.Discouraging scrutinyJane Kirtley, a media law and ethics expert at the University of Minnesota, said the federal laws cited by the government were not intended to apply to reporters gathering news.The charges against Lemon and Fort, she said, are “pure intimidation and government overreach.”Some experts and activists said the charges were not only an attack on press freedoms but also a strike against Black Americans who count on Black journalists to bear witness to injustice and oppression.The National Association of Black Journalists said it was “outraged and deeply alarmed” by Lemon’s arrest. The group called it an effort to “criminalize and threaten press freedom under the guise of law enforcement.”Crews is a leader of Black Lives Matter Minnesota who has led many protests and actions for racial justice, particularly following George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis in 2020.“All the greats have been to jail, MLK, Malcom X — people who stood up for justice get attacked,” Crews told The Associated Press. “We were just practicing our First Amendment rights.”Protesters charged previouslyA prominent civil rights attorney and two other people involved in the protest were arrested last week. Prosecutors have accused them of civil rights violations for disrupting the Cities Church service.The Justice Department launched an investigation after the group interrupted services by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to the 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.Lundy, a candidate for state Senate, works for the office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and is married to a St. Paul City Council member. Lemon briefly interviewed him as they gathered with protesters preparing to drive to the church on Jan. 18.“I feel like it’s important that if you’re going to be representing people in office that you are out here with the people,” Lundy told Lemon, adding he believed in “direct action, certainly within the lines of the law.”Church leaders praise arrests in protestCities Church belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention and lists one of its pastors as David Easterwood, who leads ICE’s St. Paul field office.“We are grateful that the Department of Justice acted swiftly to protect Cities Church so that we can continue to faithfully live out the church’s mission to worship Jesus and make him known,” lead pastor Jonathan Parnell said.___Richer and Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press reporters Dave Bauder and Aaron Morrison in New York; Giovanna Dell’Orto, Tim Sullivan, Steve Karnowski and Jack Brook in Minneapolis; and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed.
LOS ANGELES —
Journalist Don Lemon was released from custody Friday after he was arrested and hit with federal civil rights charges over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.
Lemon was arrested Thursday while across the country in Los Angeles, while another independent journalist and two protest participants were arrested in Minnesota. He struck a confident, defiant tone while speaking to reporters after a court appearance in California.
“I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now,” Lemon declared.
The arrests brought sharp criticism from news media advocates and civil rights activists including the Rev. Al Sharpton, who said the Trump administration is taking a “sledgehammer” to “the knees of the First Amendment.”
Lemon and others were indicted on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is a pastor.
In federal court in Los Angeles, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Robbins argued for a $100,000 bond, telling a judge that Lemon “knowingly joined a mob that stormed into a church.” He was released, however, without having to post money and was granted permission to travel to France in June while the case is pending.
Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski said Lemon plans to plead not guilty and fight the charges.
Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 following a bumpy run as a morning host, has said he has no affiliation to the organization that went into the church and he was there as a solo journalist chronicling protesters.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” his lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi promoted the arrests on social media.
“Make no mistake. Under President Trump’s leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely,” Bondi said in a video posted online. “And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.”
‘Keep trying’
Since he left CNN, Lemon has joined the legion of journalists who have gone into business for themselves, posting regularly on YouTube. He hasn’t hidden his disdain for President Donald Trump. Yet during his online show from the church, he said repeatedly: “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” He described the scene before him and interviewed churchgoers and demonstrators.
A magistrate judge last week rejected prosecutors’ initial bid to charge the veteran journalist. Shortly after, he predicted on his show that the administration would try again.
“And guess what,” he said. “Here I am. Keep trying. That’s not going to stop me from being a journalist. That’s not going to diminish my voice. Go ahead, make me into the new Jimmy Kimmel, if you want. Just do it. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
Georgia Fort livestreamed the moments before her arrest, telling viewers that agents were at her door and her First Amendment right as a journalist was being diminished.
A judge released Fort, Trahern Crews and Jamael Lundy on bond, rejecting the Justice Department’s attempt to keep them in custody. Not guilty pleas were entered. Fort’s supporters in the courtroom clapped and whooped.
“It’s a sinister turn of events in this country,” Fort’s attorney, Kevin Riach, said in court.
Discouraging scrutiny
Jane Kirtley, a media law and ethics expert at the University of Minnesota, said the federal laws cited by the government were not intended to apply to reporters gathering news.
The charges against Lemon and Fort, she said, are “pure intimidation and government overreach.”
Some experts and activists said the charges were not only an attack on press freedoms but also a strike against Black Americans who count on Black journalists to bear witness to injustice and oppression.
The National Association of Black Journalists said it was “outraged and deeply alarmed” by Lemon’s arrest. The group called it an effort to “criminalize and threaten press freedom under the guise of law enforcement.”
Crews is a leader of Black Lives Matter Minnesota who has led many protests and actions for racial justice, particularly following George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis in 2020.
“All the greats have been to jail, MLK, Malcom X — people who stood up for justice get attacked,” Crews told The Associated Press. “We were just practicing our First Amendment rights.”
Protesters charged previously
A prominent civil rights attorney and two other people involved in the protest were arrested last week. Prosecutors have accused them of civil rights violations for disrupting the Cities Church service.
The Justice Department launched an investigation after the group interrupted services by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to the 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Lundy, a candidate for state Senate, works for the office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and is married to a St. Paul City Council member. Lemon briefly interviewed him as they gathered with protesters preparing to drive to the church on Jan. 18.
“I feel like it’s important that if you’re going to be representing people in office that you are out here with the people,” Lundy told Lemon, adding he believed in “direct action, certainly within the lines of the law.”
Church leaders praise arrests in protest
Cities Church belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention and lists one of its pastors as David Easterwood, who leads ICE’s St. Paul field office.
“We are grateful that the Department of Justice acted swiftly to protect Cities Church so that we can continue to faithfully live out the church’s mission to worship Jesus and make him known,” lead pastor Jonathan Parnell said.
___
Richer and Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press reporters Dave Bauder and Aaron Morrison in New York; Giovanna Dell’Orto, Tim Sullivan, Steve Karnowski and Jack Brook in Minneapolis; and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed.
A driver who works for both Lyft and Uber has a warning regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. They may be pulling people out of Lyft, Uber, and other ride-share programs to detain them in the near future. And, according to other videos that she cited, they may actually be signing up to be drivers.
In a video with over 195,000 views, TikToker Centearious (@coachcentearious) discussed what Phoenix ICE agents are doing to detain undocumented immigrants in the area. According to her, the viral claim that Lyft and Uber are co-opting “ICE agents becoming drivers” is unfounded, as both platforms would not know the agent’s employment through their approval process.
What did Centearious discuss in her TikTok video?
In Centearious’s video, she described a situation where a passenger was detained from her vehicle and taken away by an unmarked police cruiser. In this situation, actual law enforcement officials took away the passenger, not ICE. But, Centearious noted that this was an incident that could happen to undocumented citizens or non-citizens targeted by ICE agents.
She also noted that ICE agents don’t have to report their employment to Uber or Lyft. That effectively makes both platforms essentially blind to any “covert” ICE operations that may be occurring. Centearious emphasized that people shouldn’t blame the platforms, but rather, ICE agents themselves, saying, “If ICE agents are truly operating Lyfts and Ubers, it may hurt the bottom line for regular drivers.”
How does Lyft and Uber’s approval process work?
Lyft and Uber have incredibly similar approval processes for new drivers.
Both companies request a criminal background check and for drivers to provide identification for themselves. These processes don’t necessarily ask drivers for previous places of employment or additional information about current obligations.
Drivers have to fit Lyft and Uber’s individual requirements, but these are also incredibly similar. Both driving platforms have an age requirement, although Lyft’s driving age requirement changes depending on the area. Both require insurance checks and a minimum amount of driving experience (one year). Both platforms have zero stipulations regarding employment background.
That means that technically, ICE agents could apply to be Lyft or Uber drivers. But that doesn’t mean they can start detaining passengers from within the car. Rather, if this information is true, then agents are most likely engaging in long “ruses.” ICE agents are told to lie about their legal capacity and jurisdiction in order to gain entry and push forward on certain key points.
Considering ICE agents have lied about their identity before, it wouldn’t be surprising for an agent to sign up for a platform like Lyft or Uber to try to draw out information about a person’s residency. ICE agents usually show identification during arrests or detainment. Based on publicly available information, they don’t necessarily have to before.
How should people stay safe?
Centearious recommended checking any driver’s information before getting inside a vehicle. For instance, a brand-new driver may not be the safest person to ride with currently, especially if ICE agents are choosing to use the platform to gather information. Centearious recommended looking for seasoned Uber and Lyft drivers with thousands of rides rather than a few.
“ If it’s a brand new driver, cancel. You have up to the first two minutes. After two minutes, it charges you a cancellation fee,” Centearious said.
Vehicles owned by federal agencies may have unique license plates and identifiers or none at all. According to sources like OPB, agents commonly try to camouflage their license plates or hide identifiers. If you see a vehicle with a hidden identifier, then it may be best to avoid entering it.
There are also vehicles that ICE agents commonly operate, such as the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, certain Chryslers, and brands of Dodge vehicles. While it’s not necessarily proven that ICE may be driving one of these vehicles, there have been reports that they’re more likely to appear in them.
The Mary Sue reached out to Lyft, Uber, and the Immigration and Customs Department via email. We Centearious via TikTok direct message for more information.
Police identified the man as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, The Associated Press reported.
Online records reviewed by Newsweek show Kazmierczak was booked at the county jail on Tuesday evening for third-degree assault. It was not immediately clear if Kazmierczak had an attorney.
Minneapolis police previously told Newsweek that officers working at the town hall observed a man “use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid onto US Representative Ilhan Omar.”
Just before, Omar had called for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment. In Minneapolis, tensions over federal immigration enforcement have escalated after agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens this month.
Newsweek has contacted Minneapolis Police Department for comment in an email sent outside of regular working hours.
Federal immigration authorities removed a Maryland father to El Salvador on Tuesday despite two court orders saying not to.During an emergency hearing Thursday at federal court in Baltimore, a federal judge examined what happened to Jose Serrano-Maldonado.Federal authorities admitted they made a mistake, conceding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement violated court orders filed in the system, even with a banner in Serrano-Maldonado’s file that said, “Do not remove.”But the feds couldn’t say why they did it anyway.The judge called this a very bad situation and demanded to know, in writing, exactly who took what steps, when and why.Serrano-Maldonado’s immigration attorney, Anna Alyssa Tijerina, is fighting for his immediate return to the United States, telling the judge that her client’s life is in danger.”He told me he is going to try and remain in his house as much as possible until this is resolved. He told me he wants to come back to the United States, even if it’s back to the detention center,” Tijerina told sister station WBAL-TV.Assistant U.S. Attorney Beatrice Thomas offered no comment outside the court when asked questions by WBAL. In court, Thomas told the judge that the government is working to fly Serrano-Maldonado back on “ICE Air” but that there’s a lot of red tape and it could take many days.The judge ordered status updates to be filed daily until Serrano-Maldonado is returned to the U.S. It’s unlikely that those daily status updates will be accessible publicly because the government said it plans to file the updates under preliminary seal.”I can’t imagine being in (the family’s) position of knowing, not knowing. At least, ‘There’s no new update today,’ is an update, right? They know something, they know that nothing was done today, but something will be done tomorrow,” Tijerina told WBAL. “For the sake of my client, for the sake of my client’s life in El Salvador, and for the sake of his family, I hope that this gets resolved quickly.”Thursday’s hearing was the first of three immigration hearings for this sole judge in the single courtroom on just one day.
Federal immigration authorities removed a Maryland father to El Salvador on Tuesday despite two court orders saying not to.
During an emergency hearing Thursday at federal court in Baltimore, a federal judge examined what happened to Jose Serrano-Maldonado.
Federal authorities admitted they made a mistake, conceding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement violated court orders filed in the system, even with a banner in Serrano-Maldonado’s file that said, “Do not remove.”
But the feds couldn’t say why they did it anyway.
The judge called this a very bad situation and demanded to know, in writing, exactly who took what steps, when and why.
Serrano-Maldonado’s immigration attorney, Anna Alyssa Tijerina, is fighting for his immediate return to the United States, telling the judge that her client’s life is in danger.
“He told me he is going to try and remain in his house as much as possible until this is resolved. He told me he wants to come back to the United States, even if it’s back to the detention center,” Tijerina told sister station WBAL-TV.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Beatrice Thomas offered no comment outside the court when asked questions by WBAL. In court, Thomas told the judge that the government is working to fly Serrano-Maldonado back on “ICE Air” but that there’s a lot of red tape and it could take many days.
The judge ordered status updates to be filed daily until Serrano-Maldonado is returned to the U.S. It’s unlikely that those daily status updates will be accessible publicly because the government said it plans to file the updates under preliminary seal.
“I can’t imagine being in (the family’s) position of knowing, not knowing. At least, ‘There’s no new update today,’ is an update, right? They know something, they know that nothing was done today, but something will be done tomorrow,” Tijerina told WBAL. “For the sake of my client, for the sake of my client’s life in El Salvador, and for the sake of his family, I hope that this gets resolved quickly.”
Thursday’s hearing was the first of three immigration hearings for this sole judge in the single courtroom on just one day.
PORTLAND, OR – Portland Mayor Keith Wilson is thanking Portland residents for speaking out against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city, as officials move forward with a legal process that could ultimately force ICE operations out of a downtown facility following what official said were repeated violations of a land-use permit, the latest development in an effort by city leaders and activists to shut down the operation.
The city issued a formal notice of land-use violation to the property owner of the ICE facility on South Macadam Avenue after an investigation found detainees were held beyond the permitted 12-hour limit or overnight at least 25 times between October 2024 and July 2025. The notice, issued in September 2025, gives the city grounds to seek reconsideration of the facility’s conditional land-use approval through a hearings officer process that could lead to revocation.
City officials say they cannot unilaterally close the facility, a point Mayor Keith Wilson emphasized as pressure mounts for immediate action.
“Any attempt to unilaterally revoke the conditional land use approval would surely be challenged,” Wilson said in a statement issued Wednesday. “We cannot allow hasty action to prevent us from taking meaningful action.”
The land-use process allows the city’s Permitting and Development department to ask a hearings officer to reconsider the approval, with potential appeals to the City Council. The property owner has challenged the city’s findings, prompting delays as officials extended deadlines to gather additional information.
Wilson framed the permit review as one piece of a broader city response to federal immigration enforcement.
“I agree with those saying loud and clear that our public safety is undermined by the actions taken by federal agents,” Wilson said.
He also called on ICE to suspend all operations in Portland until a full investigation is completed into a January 8 shooting by federal agents in the Hazelwood neighborhood.
City leaders say they are also pushing back through legal action, Portland’s sanctuary city policies that prohibit assistance with federal immigration enforcement, and the Protect Portland Initiative, which was passed unanimously by the City Council. Council members, including Angelita Morillo, have been actively involved in shaping proposals and supporting the land-use process, while noting the council’s limited authority to act on its own.
Activists have long campaigned for revocation of the permit, organizing protests and petitions aimed at closing the facility. As of late 2025, the city continues to navigate the legal and administrative steps required by the violation notice, with further hearings and potential appeals expected before a final decision is made.
“Operation Metro Surge,” an ongoing sweeping federal immigration enforcement action centered around Minneapolis and St. Paul, has been marked by aggressive tactics and strong local opposition. Tensions reached a fever pitch earlier this month after an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent killed 37-year-old Renee Good, which sparked widespread protests from both residents and demonstrators nationwide. But even before the killing, anti-ICE Twin Cities residents had absorbed lessons from other cities the Trump administration has targeted, and had formed communities that track federal agents, warn their neighbors of enforcement actions, and document what’s going on around them. Viral clips of detentions and rough tactics have rocketed around the internet, helping to galvanize opinion against the government’s tactics.
Minnesota resident Will Stancil is a lawyer, policy researcher and one-time candidate for the state’s House of Representatives, who has long been a voluble progressive presence on X and Bluesky. Over the past week, Stancil has become a mainstay of citizen patrols, tracking ICE agents around the city in his Honda Fit and sharing his experiences to his 100,000-plus followers. On Friday, I spoke with Stancil about what he has witnessed over the past few days.
Can you describe what conditions are like on the ground right now? In my neighborhood, what you saw in the days after Renee Good’s shooting was an explosion of extremely aggressive militarized ICE and DHS action. Many, many, many guys in masks. You’d drive down the street, and you’d see an out-of-state car – you’d look up and it’d be two guys in masks or four guys in masks. Big convoys of three or four dark SUVs with guys in masks. Abductions were happening. At busy intersections, they’d jump out in force and grab someone. I saw a time they chased a guy down an alley and tackled him, dragged him to a car — that sort of thing was happening all over. Very often, they get out and essentially take up a fight with the people, because they’re very unpopular. So they were antagonizing people, and then launching tear gas in the city streets. I got tear-gassed twice in 36 hours.
It’s too early to say what this means, but the last couple days have been very quiet in my neighborhood. I’ve tracked a few ICE cars through, and other people have as well. But they aren’t getting out of the cars nearly as much. So it’s possible that they are simply not able to function with the sort of level of community vigilance that we have right now, and have moved to somewhere else in the state or the city. But they could come back — they tend to move in waves.
The federal government has deployed more than 3,000 DHS agents into the Twin Cities, far outnumbering the amount of local law enforcement in the region. What is an average resident seeing on an average trip out of the house? They primarily drive rented civilian cars, mostly SUVs. So, if you’re driving through traffic and you’re just staring at the sky, you may not notice anything for the most part. But if you start looking at occupants, you realize they’re everywhere. They’ve kind of stopped wearing masks and uniforms because it was too obvious, especially in my neighborhood. They literally couldn’t make it 40 feet without picking up 20 cars and people blowing whistles and just causing chaos. It seems like they sort of have changed up their strategy a little bit. But for a few days, it felt like you were under military occupation. It was terrifying.
The first time I saw them, it was so rattling. This is sort of what got me into the ICE Watch thing. I joined this rapid response chat, and someone said, “Oh, they’re out of the car.” I can’t remember the exact address, but it was right next to where I was. So I went running over there, and there’s all these guys standing in the street with assault rifles and a very rapidly growing angry crowd. It’s not clear at all what they’re doing. It was so weird to see them there. No local cops in sight — just like this military deployment. And then later on, I was like, “maybe I’ll go follow these guys around.” I started looking and it didn’t take a lot of careful detective work. You just find a busy intersection, park on the side of the street, and you’d watch and 20 minutes later, a caravan full of heavily armed border patrol guys would roll by. So their presence was very obvious.
The other thing I’ll say is that no one in the city wants to talk about anything else. Every single store has anti-ICE signs. Every single intersection has anti-ICE graffiti. Go into a restaurant, and there’s five tables that have people at them, and all five tables are probably talking about ICE. Go to the grocery store, the grocery store clerk is talking about ICE. Their presence is comparable to if a military force had occupied the city in terms of public attention and focus on it.
Do the videos we’ve seen — of violent arrests, of agents deploying flashbangs and tear gas on bystanders — capture the full extent of what’s happening? No. In the private rapid response channels, people will share many, many videos, and they don’t want to bring them public because they don’t want to be identified. People are worried. So there’s lots and lots more private stuff that is never circulating. The other thing is I think it’s really difficult to capture. The last few days have been calmer. But for the first week or so, it was really hard to convey the unrelenting pace of this stuff. I had a journalist come ride along — he just published an article about it. I had been talking about how crazy it was, and I could tell he was a little bit skeptical. He thought, okay, maybe we’ll see an ICE car. In a two-hour ride, we chased four ICE convoys onto the highway, saw someone violently abducted alive in front of us, and then saw a separate ICE convoy tear gas a major commercial intersection for no reason at all.In two hours.
We have these rapid response channels. I mean, I got to the point where — and this is very difficult to do — -but I got to the point where I mute them or turn them off or leave them when I come home in the evening, because getting the constant updates — as much as I want to be informed of my community, if I’m not out there and can’t do anything about it, I am a raw nerve all day and night. I come home and I just have to lie on the couch and just shut everything off and shut my brain off because you’ll go insane hearing about what all they’re doing.
What has struck me from the news coverage is how many residents appear to be taking part in a demonstration or community aid in this way for the first time. I think seeing it has been galvanizing. When you see a video of somewhere that you shop every day getting tear-gassed or someone getting abducted from the main commercial strip in your neighborhood, it is galvanizing. People are angry beyond description. The other thing is seeing your neighbors do it makes it easier. I’ve probably had 20 people come to me because I’ve been public about this and say, “Help me get into the rapid response stuff. I want to do it too.” I’ve had neighbors come to me, and many of them have never engaged in any kind of activism or advocacy. Some of them are just wealthy older folks who are like, “I want to help.”
The Trump administration has defended the agents as conducting law enforcement actions. How much enforcement do you see them actually doing? It’s ludicrous. I mean, you take 20 guys with assault rifles and pepper balls, put them in a convoy, they’re all in masks and uniformed armor. They pull up at the main intersection of my neighborhood where there’s a McDonald’s, where I walk by every day. They jump out, and they’re tear-gassing people in the crowd. They grab one woman off the street, whose name they did not get. She’s walking alone. No one knows who she is because she’s just walking on the street. She’s a Black woman. You stuff her in a car, you continue to shoot tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd and then you pile into your convoy and you tear off. That is obviously an atrocious thing to witness and to do. But the other thing is, it has no utility whatsoever as an immigration enforcement action. They don’t even know who they grabbed. They didn’t get her name. No one there knew her, so how would they know her? And it took 20 guys and four cars and like a half million dollars worth of weapons. Even if you agreed with the notion that we needed aggressive immigration enforcement, and I don’t — but if you did — this is an incredibly inefficient way of doing it. So much so that the idea that that’s the goal is completely laughable.
I was here in 2020 and it was, in some ways, a similar environment. The whole city was focused on one thing. It didn’t feel safe on the streets. The businesses were all under threat, and there was this kind of paranoia. It was frightening, but it wasn’t clear who to blame. It wasn’t like there’s an external force doing this to us; it was like the civil order had just collapsed. But this time, this is being done to us. We are being attacked. One of the things I actually think that is striking a little bit is I know outside of Minneapolis and Minnesota, people say, “Oh they need to be better trained.” But when you see it up close and you see what they’re doing, the scale of it and how little interest they have in effective immigration enforcement, you realize that it’s not like they overstepped or are badly trained. They are attacking us. We are under occupation. And you’ll notice that the mayor and governor are saying the same thing.
How has it been seeing this response from your community? Were you surprised by how universal it seems? I would say honestly I’m not that surprised because I know Minneapolis and I know that this is how this community functions. But the scale of it is still overwhelming sometimes. The way that you’ll go down a street and there’s someone watching on every corner. Every single pedestrian is keeping an eye out, and every single person in every store is keeping an eye out. It does make you feel so connected to your community when this is happening, because we really are all in together. I’m just one guy. I can follow a few cars a day. The reason this works is because there are so many people doing it. There’s so many people out there who are doing it so well, relentlessly, all hours of the day and night. Most of them will be anonymous pretty much forever, and I think they’re all heroes. I can’t even put into words how much admiration and respect I have for all of them.
It’s clear that ICE is just being suffocated by it. They stopped wearing the uniforms, and they stopped wearing the masks because they get identified too fast. If they do get identified, they get immediately trailed. Today, I trailed a few different cars. One was confirmed ICE, and he used a tactic they like: They photograph your car and then they lead you back to your home. He stopped in front of my apartment and pointed at it. It was very funny because once we were heading towards that area, I was like, I know where he’s going. So we were laughing in the car. And then the other one we’re pretty sure was ICE — he actually just did a slow loop. It was two guys in the car and they led us through the Renee Good Memorial and then the George Floyd Memorial. But it’s turned into this thing where they come to the city, and the only things that happen is either they’re getting chased out by 20 cars honking, whistling and all that, or they’re just going to lead people all around town for hours and waste both of our days. So I just don’t see how they could conceivably operate in these conditions, especially given how they want to operate.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Community members packed a Montgomery County Council meeting to speak in favor of a bill that would codify policies to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Business owners, high school students and civic and religious leaders were among those who packed the Montgomery County Council chambers on Tuesday, telling the 11-member council to pass the TRUST Act.
The bill would put into law current county policies designed to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts. The bill would also codify the county’s policy of providing services to all residents, regardless of immigration status.
Council President Natali Fani-González, who has spoken publicly of her own deportation proceedings, warned those in attendance at the outset, “Please, do not clap, do not boo, do not interrupt any of the speakers.”
With that, she invited the members of the first panel to testify.
While the bill is restricted to Montgomery County, the recent killing of Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed in her vehicle by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis, was mentioned several times.
Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrator Earl Stoddard referred to ICE enforcement broadly.
“These actions have made the job of local law enforcement harder and, frankly, undermined confidence in government nationwide,” Stoddard said.
He said the expedited bill under council consideration would provide for “the limited circumstances when the county receives an immigration detainer to” the county’s department of corrections for an individual who’s been convicted of a crime of violence, “or other serious breaches of the public trust.”
In those cases, the department could notify ICE prior to releasing that individual, but the county would not hold those individuals past their mandated release date.
“This strikes the appropriate balance to promote public safety for all,” Stoddard said.
Nicole Isern, who explained she was born and raised in Lima, Peru, and now works as an educator in Montgomery County, became emotional as she described how school social workers or other staff members accompany students to medical appointments in D.C., “so parents can remain hidden and safe.”
“We say we want our children to thrive. We want them to read on grade-level and excel in math. In what world does that happen when children are grieving the disappearance of their parent?” Isern asked tearfully.
Immediately following Isern’s testimony, Stacey Sauter, a member of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, turned on her microphone at the witness table to speak.
“It’s hard to follow,” she said, referring to Isern’s testimony, “especially when you’re here to testify against the bill.”
“To be clear, immigrants are already protected by important civil rights. What is too often overlooked are the civic rights of taxpayers,” Sauter told the council.
In his testimony, small business owner Omar Lazo said he’s a member of the county’s Latino Restaurant Association. Lazo said the fear of immigration enforcement actions has a profound impact on small businesses like his own.
“What is happening in our immigrant communities is not theoretical. It’s painful, personal and deeply destabilizing,” he said.
Lazo said that the “entire local economy suffers” when the immigrant community is worried about the impacts of enforcement actions.
“I’ve talked to tax preparers who are afraid right now, because people are afraid to file taxes. I’ve spoken with beer and wine store owners, watching their sales collapse,” he said.
Seneca Valley High School student Mark Antony Briseno told the council he is the “proud son of two undocumented immigrants who have lived” in the county for nearly 20 years.
“My parents mean everything to me,” he said. “I never imagined that anything could happen that would separate us.”
But the morning of Dec. 17, his father was taken into ICE custody.
“This is not protecting the United States,” Briseno said. “This is tearing families apart.”
The next step for the expedited bill is a work session before the council’s Public Safety and Government Operations and Fiscal Policy committees on Jan. 28. The bill would then be forwarded to the full county council for a vote at a future council session.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
Donald Trump insists that ICE shot Renee Nicole Good because she “behaved horribly” and “ran over” an officer. But when confronted with bystander footage, the president stalled, softened, and let silence replace evidence.
After the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, The New York Times reached out to President Trump for comments. He simply had to explain why a 37-year-old U.S. citizen woman was shot dead by a federal agent. But of course, video evidence already suggests that the shooting was uncalled for. So, Trump decided to just go with the federal narrative.
The president confidently declared that ICE had shot Good in self-defense. He described the incident as a “vicious situation.” He repeatedly framed Good herself as the problem, as someone “very disorderly,” who “behaved horribly.” And as always, he also gave verdicts right away. “She didn’t try to run him over,” Trump said. “She ran him over.”
That was the federal claim, but journalists told him that the bystander video shows nothing like that. Yet, Trump doesn’t like being wrong. So, he responded with bravado, offering to prove himself on the spot. “I’ll play the tape for you right now,” he said. But as the slow-motion footage rolled, the certainty vanished, and the president could no longer finish his own sentence.
When the video spoke, Trump couldn’t
Trump’s aide then brought a laptop to the Resolute Desk, and a slow-motion surveillance footage rolled. As reporters pointed out that this angle did not show an officer being struck, Trump trailed off. “Well,” he said. “I—the way I look at it…” and he never finished the thought. Instead, his tone shifted and his certainty dissolved into discomfort.
“It’s a terrible scene,” Trump said after the video ended. “I think it’s horrible to watch. No, I hate to see it.” On one hand, he continued to assert that Good had endangered officers. On the other hand, he insisted he wanted “to see nobody get shot.” Without wasting a breath, he also claimed, “I want to see nobody screaming and trying to run over policemen either.”
But nowhere did Trump reconcile the contradiction. He did not explain how footage that didn’t show an agent being run over still confirmed his version of events. He did not revise his earlier statements and let the moment pass.
The New York Times analyzed all public videos, and none show Renee Good running over an ICE agent
According to the analysis, the footage shows Good’s SUV stopped in the street, federal vehicles nearby, and agents approaching. After an ICE agent reaches into the vehicle, the SUV reverses and turns right, probably attempting to leave. When the shots are fired, the agent who opens fire is positioned to the left of the vehicle. Notably, the wheels of Good’s SUB are clearly angled away from him.
In short, synchronized footage suggests the agent was not in the path of the SUV when he fired three close-range shots at the 37-year-old. Another grainy angle, frequently cited by federal officials, appears to show contact. But when aligned with clearer footage, it does not support the claim that the officer was run over. That discrepancy is the difference between a defensive shooting and a cold-blooded murder.
But Trump or his aides never withdrew their claims. At the same time, they could not substantiate it either. Trump simply pivoted to the language of regret without accountability. And those who can be held accountable, like Kristi Noem, have decided to stick to their lies.
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.
MINNEAPOLIS —
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.
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.
MINNEAPOLIS —
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.
Maryland State Del. Adrian Boafo is proposing legislation designed to bar some sworn U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from working for state police agencies.
Maryland State Del. Adrian Boafo is proposing legislation designed to bar some sworn U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from working for state police agencies.
Boafo told WTOP he’s proposing the “ICE Breakers Act of 2026,” which would disqualify ICE officers who signed up to work for the agency as of Jan. 20, 2025, from gaining employment in Maryland state law enforcement jobs.
Asked why those officers should be prevented from working for Maryland agencies, such as the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police and other state law enforcement divisions, Boafo pointed to the tone of the current ICE recruitment effort, saying, “There’s a moral debate at the center of it, and it’s playing before our very eyes.”
“If you are somebody who sat there and watched TV and said, ‘I like what they’re doing, and I want to go join them in this fight to separate and tear families apart,’ we don’t want you in Maryland,” Boafo said.
Boafo cited concerns about the accelerated pace of hiring for ICE officers, saying that in Maryland, “We want to make sure we have folks of principle who are joining us, not folks who want to tear families apart.”
The Department of Homeland Security has posted hiring promotions on social media. One shows the interior of a van with the caption, “Want to deport illegals with your absolute bros?”
A click on the ICE recruitment site leads to an FAQ page that states, “ICE is looking for individuals with integrity and courage. ICE is interested in hiring law enforcement personnel who aspire to the highest standards of performance, professionalism and leadership.”
Shootings involving ICE officers in Maryland, Minnesota and Portland in recent weeks have prompted protests and questions about the strategies and tactics used by ICE officers.
Boafo said the bill does not prohibit ICE officers from working in other areas of state government, just state law enforcement positions. It would also not apply to officers who worked for ICE prior to Jan. 20, 2025.
Asked about whether he believes the bill could withstand a legal challenge, he said, “Employment discrimination and employment prohibition law is very clear. There’s a list of protected classes.”
He said police officers and federal agencies would not fall under those categories.
Boafo, who represents a district in Prince George’s County — home to thousands of current and former federal workers — said he understands the financial incentive of the $50,000 signing bonuses offered as of August 2025.
“My district, in particular, has been really hit hard by the federal worker layoffs. Prince George’s County, as a whole, has been hit hard,” he said.
But he emphasized the impact that accelerated ICE enforcement has had on communities.
“People are frightened to go outside of their house, people are frightened to go grocery shopping,” he said.
Boafo said in crafting the bill, he talked to law enforcement agents who served as ICE officers, and said he expects to have other lawmakers sign on to support the bill.
Maryland’s General Assembly session starts Jan. 14.
WTOP has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
