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Minneapolis incident ignites protests
The fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by federal agents in Minneapolis has triggered public outrage and renewed scrutiny of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Demonstrations erupted across the city as residents questioned the agency's use of force during immigration enforcement actions.
ICE's expanded role under Trump
Since Donald Trump's return to the White House, ICE has significantly ramped up its activities, conducting thousands of arrests-many in public spaces. The agency now leads the administration's mass deportation efforts, a cornerstone of Trump's 2024 campaign platform. ICE's budget and workforce have grown, with its mandate expanded to target undocumented immigrants nationwide.
Created in 2002 as part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE operates under broader authorities than local police. Agents can detain individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally and, in limited cases, U.S. citizens who interfere with arrests or are mistakenly identified as undocumented. However, ProPublica reported over 170 incidents in the first nine months of Trump's presidency where citizens were wrongfully held.
Legal framework for use of force
ICE's use-of-force policies are governed by the U.S. Constitution, federal law, and DHS guidelines. Vanderbilt University Law School's Chris Slobogin noted that deadly force is legally permissible only if an individual poses an imminent threat or has committed a violent crime. A 2023 DHS memo further restricts such force to situations where agents reasonably believe a subject endangers lives.
The Supreme Court has historically deferred to officers' split-second judgments, complicating accountability. Critics argue this leniency enables excessive force, while supporters contend it's necessary for high-risk operations.
Blurred lines and large-scale deployments
Traditionally, ICE operates within U.S. borders, while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) secures the frontier. Under Trump, these roles have overlapped, with Border Patrol agents increasingly joining ICE raids in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis. The Associated Press reported that up to 2,000 federal officers were deployed to Minneapolis for the latest operation.
Deportation numbers have surged: the administration claims 605,000 removals between January and December 2025, alongside 1.9 million "voluntary self-deportations" spurred by aggressive public campaigns. As of November 30, 2025, ICE held approximately 65,000 detainees, per Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
Community resistance and transparency concerns
Public pushback has intensified, with residents frequently filming ICE arrests. In Chicago, media organizations sued Border Patrol, alleging excessive force against journalists and protesters-a ruling later overturned on appeal. Minneapolis is not the first city to see violence during immigration enforcement: the Los Angeles Times documented two October incidents where agents fired at drivers who allegedly threatened them with vehicles.
Immigration lawyers report difficulties locating detained individuals, with families sometimes waiting days to confirm their whereabouts. ICE's practice of masking agents during operations has also drawn criticism, though DHS defends it as protection against harassment.
Public opinion divided
A Pew Research Center poll from October 2025 found that 53% of U.S. adults believe the Trump administration is overreaching in deportations, while 36% support its approach. Though a slim majority acknowledges the need for some deportations, concerns persist about the methods employed.
"Americans recognize the complexity of immigration enforcement, but the tactics matter," said a Pew analyst.
