The family of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three fatally shot by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis earlier this year, has filed civil lawsuits against the U.S. government and several senior Trump administration officials. The legal actions allege wrongful death, excessive use of force, and conspiracy, linking her killing to a broader federal immigration enforcement operation targeting Minnesota’s Somali and Hispanic communities.
Renee Good was shot on January 7 during a federal immigration enforcement action known as Operation Metro Surge. According to the lawsuits, Good and her partner, Becca Good, encountered masked immigration officers while dropping their child off at school. Bystander video shows Renee Good sitting in the driver’s seat of a red SUV, honking her horn to warn others of the federal operation while Becca filmed. When officers ordered Good to exit the vehicle, she reversed briefly and then attempted to drive away. ICE officer Jonathan Ross fired multiple shots through the windshield and the open driver-side window, fatally wounding Good.
The family’s complaints accuse Ross and senior Trump administration officials—including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, former ICE acting director Todd Lyons, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, and others—of orchestrating an immigration crackdown that resulted in discriminatory and unconstitutional actions against residents. The federal operation is described as a campaign to intimidate and target immigrant communities, and Good’s shooting reportedly violated Department of Homeland Security policies restricting the use of deadly force against moving vehicles and discouraging officers from placing themselves in a vehicle’s path.
Good’s relatives are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, asserting that the shooting and aftermath constituted violations of her civil rights, including Fourth Amendment protections against excessive force. They also allege that federal agents failed to provide immediate medical aid after the shooting, allegedly turning away a bystander who identified himself as a physician. The lawsuits include a claim under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, arguing conspiracy to deny equal protection under the law to specific ethnic communities.
Federal authorities have defended the shooting, with officials claiming the officer acted in self-defense and describing Good’s actions as “an act of domestic terrorism.” Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Ross fired defensive shots after Good attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon. However, video footage and an independent autopsy commissioned by Good’s family suggest a disputed account: the autopsy found three gunshot wounds, and the medical examiner classified the death as a homicide without establishing criminality.
The fatal shooting of Good, followed weeks later by another federal agent’s killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, sparked national protests and widespread outrage over immigration enforcement practices during the Trump administration’s second term. At least ten people died in encounters with immigration officers during this period, contributing to increased calls for scrutiny and accountability.
Minnesota state investigators, including the county attorney’s office and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, have been pursuing a criminal inquiry, demanding access to evidence such as Good’s damaged SUV, video footage, and officer records. After months of resistance, the federal government complied in July by turning over key materials to state authorities, who have yet to decide whether to file charges.
Becca Good, who now represents the family alongside Renee’s brother Brent Ganger, emphasized the emotional toll of the incident, highlighting the impact on their children and community. Legal counsel representing the family said the lawsuits aim to hold accountable those responsible for policies and actions that led to Renee Good’s death, stressing the need for changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment, while a White House spokesperson pledged to vigorously defend against the lawsuits. The family’s legal team also acknowledged the challenges in suing federal officers but emphasized the significance of pursuing justice and accountability in Renee Good’s case.