Thousands of demonstrators have flooded streets across the United States in a wave of coordinated protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The nationwide unrest was triggered by the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday, 10 January 2026.
Shootings Spark Public Fury
The protests were ignited by two separate incidents involving federal immigration officers. In Minneapolis, Renee Good was shot and killed while inside her car. In a concurrent event in Portland, Oregon, another immigration enforcement officer shot and wounded two individuals. The US Department of Homeland Security has labelled both shootings as acts of self-defence, claiming the drivers were "weaponising" their vehicles.
Despite this official stance, public anger has boiled over. Many of the rallies, organised under the banner "ICE Out for Good", saw participants brandishing signs accusing agents of murder and calling for an end to immigration enforcement operations.
Major Enforcement Operation Underway
The demonstrations coincide with a significant escalation of federal activity. The Trump administration is currently conducting what it describes as its biggest-ever immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. As part of this expanded drive, more than 2,000 federal personnel have been deployed to Minnesota.
Interestingly, some of these officers were reassigned after being abruptly withdrawn from Louisiana, where they had been involved in a separate operation launched last month.
Consequences and Continued Unrest
The protests have been widespread, with events reported in every US state, coordinated by the "ICE Out for Good" group and its local chapters. In Minneapolis, a police chief reported that officers faced projectiles including ice, snow, and rocks. Vigils and rallies continued through the weekend, with images showing crowds sitting in streets with hands raised and holding placards outside federal buildings.
The administration's defence of the shootings and the scale of the ongoing enforcement operation suggest that the clash between protestors and federal authorities is likely to continue, keeping immigration policy at the forefront of national debate.
