Tens of thousands of people marched through Minneapolis on Saturday to protest the fatal shooting of a woman by a U.S. immigration officer, as demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement spread across the country.
The rally followed the death of Renee Good, 37, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on Wednesday during a federal operation.
Protesters accused authorities of using excessive force and demanded accountability, while calling for an end to what they described as militarised deportation efforts.
Despite sub-freezing temperatures and strong winds, crowds gathered in Minnesota’s largest city, chanting slogans including "Abolish ICE" and "No justice, no peace-get ICE off our streets".
Smaller demonstrations were reported in cities including New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, Los Angeles and San Diego, with more planned for Sunday.
Organisers said the protest reflected growing anger over immigration raids ordered under President Donald Trump, which critics say have disproportionately targeted Democratic-led cities.
Good, a mother of three, was a volunteer with a local activist network that monitors immigration enforcement activity. Supporters dispute official claims that the ICE officer acted in self-defence, saying video footage does not show her posing a threat.
A Reuters analysis of several videos circulating online shows the officer, identified as Jonathan Ross, firing three shots at Good as her vehicle moved away from him. None of the footage shows the car making contact with the officer.
In one clip recorded by Ross himself, Good appears calm as he approaches her vehicle, telling him, "That's fine, dude. I'm not mad at you." Other bystander videos show her car stationary for several minutes before agents moved in.
Minnesota authorities said on Friday they had opened a separate state criminal investigation into the shooting, amid criticism that the FBI-led federal inquiry was excluding state and local investigators.
The incident has intensified tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota’s Democratic leadership. Governor Tim Walz accused the president of trying to "sow fear and chaos", while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged demonstrators to remain peaceful.
"We will not counter Donald Trump's chaos with our own brand of chaos," Frey told reporters. "He wants us to take the bait."
Saturday’s march passed the residential street where Good was shot dead inside her SUV. Police estimated the crowd at tens of thousands, describing the protest as loud but orderly after a previous night of unrest that led to 30 arrests and reports of vandalism.
The shooting came days after the Department of Homeland Security deployed around 2,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis–St Paul area in what it described as its largest operation to date.
The United Nations has described footage of the shooting as "deeply disturbing" and called for a thorough investigation, saying the right to peaceful protest must be protected.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, is a federal law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Homeland Security.
It was created in 2003 following the September 11 attacks and is responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the United States, as well as investigating cross-border crime.
ICE has two main branches: Enforcement and Removal Operations, which oversees immigration arrests, detention and deportation, and Homeland Security Investigations, which focuses on crimes such as human trafficking, drug smuggling and financial fraud.
The agency has long been controversial. Critics argue its tactics intimidate immigrant communities and blur the line between civil enforcement and criminal policing, while supporters say strict enforcement is essential for public safety and national security.
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