A few of our stories and columns are now in front of the paywall. We at The Chief remain committed to independent reporting on labor and civil service. It's been our mission since 1897. You can have a hand in ensuring that our reporting remains relevant in the decades to come. Consider supporting The Chief, which you can do for as little as $3.20 a month.
To the editor:
The killing of Renee Nicole Good, a legal observer at a Minneapolis ICE enforcement operation, symbolizes the brutal, cruel, illegal and unaccountable immigration policy of the Trump administration.
According to a video and eyewitness accounts, ICE officers using profanity screamed at Ms. Good to get out of her SUV. She slowly backed up and turned the car to the right, away from the federal agents. Jonathan Ross, one of the ICE officers, shot her through the windshield. He then shot twice more through the side window.
This horrific scene became even more disturbing when ICE agents did not rush to provide emergency medical aid, pepper-sprayed the protesters and blocked car access of the medics who were forced to walk to the SUV. Mr. Ross had walked away from the crime scene, telling his colleagues to call 911.
Federal agents then got in their cars and drove away, compromising the crime scene. Government officials later said they will not permit state and local law enforcement to participate in the investigation.
It was grotesque to hear what the administration said about the shooting and about Ms. Good. Kristi Noem, DHS, accused Good of “weaponizing her vehicle” to carry out an “act of domestic terrorism."
Noem also claimed the woman had “attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle." Trump said that Good “violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE officer… it is hard to believe that he is alive.” Vice President JD Vance said that the victim had been part of a left-wing “network” of activists whose objective was to go after immigration officials.
Hannah Arendt wrote that to enact and sustain our freedom, people must "think what we are doing.” Since Jan. 20, 2025, have enough Americans, members of Congress, members of the Supreme Court and lower Court judges appointed by the president understood what the Trump administration has been doing?
Howard Elterman
13 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Admin
Or do they care?
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
Valete
I respectfully disagree with your letter. You claim that the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross during a Minneapolis ICE operation highlights the Trump administration’s brutal immigration policy. You also state that despite eyewitness accounts and video evidence, the administration falsely claimed Good attacked the officers and that ICE agents obstructed medical aid and compromised the crime scene.
However, six-camera angles clearly captured the killing. Ms. Good and her partner were taunting the officers and acting aggressively, illegally impeding ICE operations. Ms. Good drove her vehicle into officer Ross, who reacted immediately to the hostility by firing his weapon. Ms. Good also posed a threat to fellow officers. Had Ms. Good and her partner not acted aggressively, the shooting would not have occurred. It’s inappropriate and baseless to attribute Ms. Good’s death to the Trump administration’s immigration policy. The blame falls on Ms. Good and her partner, who acted like common thugs and triggered the tragedy.
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
fcannisi
Howard, Word Man aka Robert Sica just answered your question.
NO, MAGA fringe extremists will never understand the damage they have unleashed.
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
DOTHERIGHTTHING
Renee Good tried to run over the ICE Officer injuring him?
I ask what would you do?
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
Valete
Review the online recordings. Good backed up her vehicle, revved its engine, put it in drive, and collided with the ICE officer. To protect himself, he discharged his weapon in self-defense. This tragic incident will be thoroughly investigated and made public, thereby vindicating the actions of the ICE agent. Regrettably, violence often leads to further violence.
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
wpeakes
At least one of the ICE vehicles was clearly able to go past Renee Good and if that's the case they all could have and this murder would never have happened. The problem began when one agent decided that he didn't want to just pass by and attempted to flex his authority and approach Ms. Good. From there, several ICE agents at the scene of her murder were yelling conflicting instructions to Renee Good: to leave, to stop, to get out the car, etc. That alone is enough to have caused the confusion we all saw on the videos. It's obvious from her actions that Renee Good heard only one command clearly: to leave. The ICE agent who planted himself in front of her car placed himself at risk against all known law enforcement guidelines. If the actions of that agent are a reflection of the training he received from DHS, then there’s an even bigger problem. I don’t know of any law enforcement training that instructs officers/agents that it’s OK to be recording a video on your cell phone with your gun drawn, while in the middle of an enforcement action involving active shooting and firearms. It’s just outrageous!! No matter what the circumstances, ICE is no more sacrosanct than any other law enforcement agency. I'd also like to remind Word Man (aka JDonne) and others that there’s no death penalty for civil disobedience and if there were the 60's would have been a bloodbath. And even IF Renee Good was in some way trying to block the street to prevent the ICE caravan from proceeding, she didn't deserve to die at the hands of ill-trained, trigger-happy thugs.
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
Valete
In my view, the video footage clearly depicts Ms. Good and her companion obstructing and hindering the lawful actions of ICE agents. As a matter of constitutional principle, peaceful protest is the preferred form of expression, while violent protest is strictly prohibited. Engaging in acts of violence and insurrection can only lead to chaos and disorder. Attempting to justify such actions is utterly unacceptable. The letter writer’s argument is based on unfounded assumptions rather than factual evidence. This incident will undoubtedly undergo a thorough investigation. Once the truth is revealed, the discussion surrounding it will likely persist. Personally, I firmly condemn violence and anarchy in all its forms.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
fcannisi
The proof is in the pudding. Renee Good could not have tried to run the ICE agent over. Even after being fatally shot, her vehicle moved pass the agent without striking him.
As for DTRT's question, I would have let Good, her dog and her wife leave. ICE spoke with Good and her wife, recorded the interaction and if ICE needed to follow up they could easily have done so.
Instead of identifying themselves and calming the situation, ICE chose the opposite. DTRT and Sica may be okay with that type of policing but most Americans recoil at such heavy-handed, unconstitutional tactics and want them to end.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
Valete
I am uncertain which video you have viewed, but Good’s vehicle evidently collided with ICE agent Ross, prompting him to act in self-defense. Had the violent individuals engaged in peaceful protests, no fatalities would have occurred. When will Democrats comprehend that peaceful assembly is a fundamental principle enshrined in the Constitution, not anarchy?
Thursday, January 15 Report this
fcannisi
Word Man, I am certain that no video will convince you to change your mind regarding the shooting of Renee Good. Including the first video that surfaced taken from behind Good's vehicle.
If you watch it carefully you can easily see that the ICE agent is unharmed, there is at least 3-4 feet between the agent and Good's vehicle and the agent walks normally towards Good's crashed vehicle.
But, as usual facts and MAGA don't mix.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
Valete
You appear to be unaware of the meaning of the word “fact,” which, by the way, is a noun. Your attempts to convince anyone that Ms. Good was a peaceful protester are as absurd as your posts, which I find amusing. The chaos in Minnesota will cease when Mr. Trump deploys armed military forces to halt the carnage and mayhem orchestrated by Minnesota’s left-wing mayor and governor.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
Valete
In response to the unrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, President Donald Trump has once again hinted at deploying the military. On Truth Social, Trump mentioned that “if the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t follow the law and prevent the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are simply doing their job, I will implement the INSURRECTION ACT.”ACT".
The Insurrection Act of 1807 gives the president the power to call in active-duty military folks to help out with law enforcement right here in the US.
Trump mentioned that using the act would “quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State” of Minnesota.
Friday, January 16 Report this
Valete
In the turmoil of Minessota’s iolence and sorrow, humans acting like savages attack and threatens each other because of political ideologies that differ, instead of sitting down at table and creating diologue that could possibly bring and peaceful settlement to the violence and sorrows caused by injuries that serve nno purpose other than to perpetuate the pain and sorrow to the degree of loss of human life which is a precious gift from the almighty , a gift we do not have the right to abuse or destroy because of different political views and ideas regarding the direction of America’s future government policies of perceivedngood and evil.
Monday, January 19 Report this