A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent allegedly made a vile, bigoted remark about a recently slain protester while taking a Minneapolis demonstrator into custody, it has been claimed.
Allegations of a Shocking Slur During Arrest
Patty O'Keefe, 36, and a friend were detained by ICE agents on Sunday for allegedly 'impeding operations'. The pair had been following officers who were driving around making arrests. According to O'Keefe, agents stopped in front of her car, fired pepper spray through her windshield vent, smashed her windows, and dragged her from the vehicle.
She was then placed in a federal vehicle with three agents. O'Keefe alleges that during the journey to the B.H. Whipple federal detention centre in St Paul, the agents 'taunted' and 'mocked' her, calling her 'ugly'. She claims one agent then stated: 'You guys gotta stop obstructing us. That's why that lesbian b***h is dead.'
This alleged remark appears to be a direct reference to the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was shot in the head by ICE officer Jonathan 'Jon' Ross on January 7 in front of her partner. O'Keefe described the comment as a 'shocking, bigoted, [and] deeply dehumanizing thing to hear.'
Disturbing Conditions Inside the Detention Facility
O'Keefe and her friend Brandon Sigüenza, both American citizens from Minneapolis, were released without charge by Sunday evening. However, they have provided a detailed account of their time in custody. They were held in adjacent cells, each no larger than 10 feet by 10 feet, with a concrete bench and constant surveillance.
The pair allege they witnessed deeply distressing scenes. 'From my cell, I could hear wailing and desperate crying of people in the facility,' O'Keefe told CBS News. They observed a woman attempting to use a toilet while three male agents watched, and saw other detainees screaming for help. Sigüenza said cellmates with a cut head and an injured toe received no medical attention, and requests for water or bathroom breaks were ignored.
Sigüenza, who is Hispanic, further claims a Department of Homeland Security investigator offered him money or legal protection in exchange for names of protest organisers or undocumented neighbours, an offer he refused.
Broader Context and Ongoing Investigations
The arrest occurred amidst the Trump administration's latest immigration crackdown, which O'Keefe and Sigüenza had been monitoring. They believe their detention was intended to intimidate critics. Despite this, O'Keefe stated: 'We know there's some risk and it's worth it.'
Meanwhile, the FBI is conducting a thorough inquiry into the fatal shooting of Renee Good. Sources suggest Officer Ross is 'increasingly unlikely' to face criminal charges, and the Department of Justice's civil rights division has not opened a probe into whether Good's rights were violated. Federal investigators are reportedly examining Good's possible connections to activist groups.
Good's family has hired the firm that represented George Floyd's family to conduct a civil investigation. The Trump administration has defended Ross's actions, claiming he fired in self-defence—an explanation contested by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz based on video evidence.
The Daily Mail has approached DHS and ICE for comment on the allegations. Immigration authorities have historically defended conditions in detention facilities, stating detainees are fed and medical concerns are addressed.
