ICE Activities Increased In Severity And Frequency

Photo by Khanh Do

In the past year and a half, incidents involving the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have drawn intense national and international controversy with several violent shootings all over the country.

The first major incident this year occurred on January 7, 2026 in south Minneapolis, Minnesota when an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year old US citizen Renee Nicole Good during an enforcement action. Evidence contradicted the federal statement of justified self defense, showing the agent firing three shots through Good’s vehicle as she attempted to drive away and striking her at close range. Locals say that Good didn’t pose a lethal threat, calling federal explanations “garbage.”

“The events that have happened because of ICE make me feel extremely upset with the world right now, and how people who try to help or show people what is happening get punished is extremely unfair,” stated Grace Robinson (10). “I also think that others are upset about the ICE cases because it makes them feel unsafe every single day, not knowing if their town or they themselves are next.”

Just two weeks later on January 24, another Minnesota resident, 37-year old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, was also shot and killed by federal agents associated with Border Patrol. Human Rights Watch and independent video analysis have raised concerns about whether Pretti actually posed a serious threat the moment he got shot, with some footage showing him being taken by force before being killed. These are just two out of the many cases that critics cite as having endangered innocent civilians.

In response, public outrage has been intense, with thousands of protesters rallying in different cities all around the nation. Political leaders from both sides are also getting involved; Republican lawmakers are calling for further investigations into shootings, even as federal officials defend the actions of agents. Some push further, advocating for the abolishment of ICE altogether.

“I think these attacks are completely unjustified because they don’t have a basis, and innocent people are being hurt. And yes, some people are “illegal,” but nothing justifies separating families,” commented Keerthana Krithivasan (10). “This isn’t an issue about skipping a part of the law anymore, this is now a matter of basic human rights.”