Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has confirmed that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good will be subject to a formal internal review. The shooting, which occurred in Minneapolis earlier this month, has ignited sustained protests and a fierce political debate over the conduct of federal immigration authorities.
Details of the Shooting and Official Response
The incident took place on 7 January 2026. Good, a mother of three, was shot dead while in her car. The agent involved has been identified as Jonathan Ross. The Trump administration, including President Donald Trump himself, has defended Ross's actions, stating his life was endangered and that Good had "weaponised" her vehicle against him.
In an interview with CBS News on Sunday 18 January 2026, Secretary Noem stated that the established review process was being followed. "We are following the exact same investigative and review process that we always have under ICE and under the Department of Homeland Security and within the administration," she said. Noem also indicated that Ross was placed on a standard three-day period of administrative leave following the fatal encounter.
Political Fallout and Escalating Tensions
The killing has led to significant unrest in Minnesota, with thousands of additional ICE agents deployed to the state. Democratic leaders, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have strongly criticised the federal response. They accuse the Trump administration of excluding state authorities from the investigation and flooding local streets with federal officers.
Noem fired back at these criticisms during her Sunday appearance, specifically targeting Governor Walz. "I would not listen to Gov. Walz, he has a very bad track record," she remarked. "I'm not going to be taking any advice from him on how we implement the law and protect people." Reports suggest Walz and Frey are themselves facing a potential Department of Justice investigation for allegedly obstructing federal immigration operations.
Conflicting Narratives and Ongoing Investigations
Further complicating the situation, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the FBI is not investigating Good's shooting, claiming there is currently no basis for a federal civil rights probe. Meanwhile, a contentious exchange occurred when Noem admonished a journalist for naming the officer, citing an "8,000 percent increase in death threats" against law enforcement.
However, a subsequent report from NewsNation cited senior officials alleging that it was Noem's own department that initially released key details leading to Ross's public identification. The internal review by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security remains ongoing as protests continue to demand justice for Renee Good.
