FBI takes over investigation following ICE shooting of Minnesota woman – JURIST

A US Customs and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot a Minneapolis woman on Wednesday during continuing agency operations in the city.

On January 8, Minnesota officials were informed and told CNN that “the feds have blocked them from investigating the fatal ICE shooting” of Renee Nicole Good, 37-year-old mother and US citizen. 

The FBI and state law enforcement originally agreed to work together on the case. However, Minnesota state police said in a statement on Thursday that the FBI told the state that it would not grant access to any case materials moving forward.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed concern and doubt about a fair outcome to the shooting investigation, following the FBI’s complete takeover of the case.

The FBI’s website clarifies that “the FBI does not supervise or take over [state or local law enforcement agencies’] investigations,” and explains how federal and state law enforcement often work together. However, the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution grants federal law power over state law when the two conflict. The FBI may exercise sole jurisdiction over investigations involving federal crimes, such as domestic terrorism—overriding conflicting state or local actions in the process.

Federal officials claim the shooting was an act of self-defense. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as “an act of domestic terrorism” against ICE agents by a woman who “attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle.” Vice President JD Vance made statements claiming that Good’s death was “a tragedy of her own making.”

Other prominent figures have challenged officers’ claims of self defense. Numerous rights groups have raised concerns about ICE’s tactics during immigration raids.

“They are already trying to spin this as an [act] of self defense. Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly, that is bullshit,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a press conference. Frey expressed his frustration over the roughly 2,000 federal officers deployed in Minneapolis and St. Paul as part of the administration’s latest surge in immigration enforcement in the city, stating:

They are not here to cause safety in this city. What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust… They’re ripping families apart. They’re sowing chaos on our streets and in this case quite literally killing people.