LIVE: City and State Leaders briefing after fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Minneapolis leaders demand an independent investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) into the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good.
- ❖They accuse the federal government of pre-determining facts, calling the victim a 'domestic terrorist' and the agent's actions defensive, which contradicts available video evidence.
- ❖Local officials assert that ICE operations increase crime and division in Minneapolis, contrary to federal claims of promoting safety.
- ❖Community members are urged to organize, observe ICE actions, and provide support to immigrant neighbors to resist federal enforcement.
- ❖The lack of federal cooperation with local investigators is seen as eroding public trust and preventing legitimate accountability.
Insights
1Federal Pre-determination and Lack of Transparency
Minneapolis leaders expressed deep concern that the federal Department of Justice and presidential administration immediately concluded the facts of the fatal ICE shooting, labeling the victim a 'domestic terrorist' and the agent's actions as defensive, even before a full investigation. This pre-determination and refusal to include local experts like the Minnesota BCA are seen as undermining integrity and transparency.
The fact that Pam Bondi's Department of Justice and this presidential administration has already come to a conclusion about those facts is deeply concerning. The facts that from the very beginning, they're calling the victim of domestic terrorist. They're calling the actions of the agent involved as some form of defensive posture. We know that they've already determined much of the investigation...
2Demand for Minnesota BCA Involvement in Investigation
Local officials are united in their call for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to lead or participate in the investigation of the ICE shooting. They emphasize the BCA's expertise, track record of unbiased investigations, and local legitimacy, which they argue the FBI lacks in this context. They demand full access to evidence for a fair and trusted process.
Our ask is to include the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in this process because we in Minneapolis want a fair investigation. ...the state legislature created the Force Investigations Unit after the murder of George Floyd... We call on the FBI to share the evidence with the Force Investigations Unit at the BCA and have this be a legitimate and trusted investigation.
3ICE Operations Undermine Minneapolis Safety and Unity
Contrary to federal claims of promoting safety, Minneapolis leaders argue that ICE operations are actively making the city less safe and more divided. They cite statistics that 50% of the city's shootings this year involved ICE, and describe ICE tactics as 'kidnapping' and detrimental to local businesses.
50% of the shootings that have happened thus far in Minneapolis this year have been ICE. ...We are a safe city. ICE is making it less so. ...Our immigrant neighbors are here to work... Instead, what we are seeing in Minneapolis and across this state is ICE kidnapping our family, following folks driving to work and kidnapping them...
4Challenging Claims of Agent Immunity and Victim Blaming
Local leaders directly refute federal claims, including those from Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, that the ICE agent had 'absolute immunity' or that Renee Good 'ran him over.' They point to video evidence showing the agent was not significantly injured and assert that breaking the law, even as a federal agent, does not grant immunity.
Donald Trump said that Rene ran the ICE agent over. ...Watch the video from every single angle. ...the ICE agent walked away with a hip injury that he might as well have gotten from closing a refrigerator door with his hips. He was not injured. ...J.D. Vance this concept of absolute immunity is is pretty bizarre.
Bottom Line
The federal government's refusal to allow local law enforcement (Minnesota BCA) to investigate a federal agent's shooting, despite the BCA's established Force Investigations Unit and local trust, creates a precedent where federal agencies can operate with perceived impunity from local oversight.
This undermines the legitimacy of law enforcement and the justice system in the eyes of the local community, potentially leading to increased civil unrest and distrust in government institutions. It also highlights a jurisdictional power struggle that could have implications for other cities facing similar federal interventions.
Local governments could explore legal avenues or legislative changes to mandate local oversight or parallel investigations for federal actions within their jurisdictions, pushing for greater state sovereignty in matters of public safety and accountability.
The claim that ICE operations are driving up crime and negatively impacting local businesses (e.g., '80% reductions in customer base along East Lake Street') directly contradicts the federal narrative of improving safety and economic conditions.
This suggests a significant disconnect between federal policy goals and their on-the-ground impact, as perceived by local leaders and communities. It implies that federal actions might be inadvertently destabilizing local economies and increasing perceived insecurity, rather than achieving their stated objectives.
Local economic development agencies and community groups could conduct detailed studies to quantify the economic and social impact of federal immigration enforcement on specific neighborhoods and businesses, providing data-driven arguments for policy changes or local protective measures.
Lessons
- Demand full transparency and independent investigation by the Minnesota BCA into the fatal ICE shooting, ensuring all evidence is shared.
- Educate community members on their rights and rapid response protocols when encountering immigration enforcement in their neighborhoods.
- Organize community support networks to provide practical assistance (rides, groceries, moving cars during snow emergencies) to immigrant neighbors vulnerable to ICE actions.
Community Resistance and Support Against ICE Operations
Stay on alert and observe illegal actions by ICE in your neighborhood, blowing a whistle or making noise when immigration enforcement is sighted.
Get trained on rapid response to educate neighbors on what is happening on their block and provide immediate assistance.
Offer practical support to immigrant neighbors, including rides for work or groceries, helping move cars during snow emergencies, and assisting with trash disposal, as these are reported times for ICE pickups.
Support immigrant-owned businesses and provide groceries to families affected by ICE actions.
Demand justice for victims of ICE violence and make it clear that ICE is not welcome in the city and state.
Quotes
"In Minneapolis, when a tragedy strikes, there's one word that summarizes what is most important, and that word is integrity. This is not the time to bend the rules. This is a time to follow the law. This is not a time to hide from the facts. This is a time to embrace them."
"Our ask is to embrace the truth. Our ask is to include the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in this process because we in Minneapolis want a fair investigation."
"50% of the shootings that have happened thus far in Minneapolis this year have been ICE. In other words, we've only had two shootings. One of them has been ICE. We are a safe city. ICE is making it less so."
"My name is Jason Chavez, and I have the privilege of representing Ward 9 on the Minneapolis City Council where ICE murdered Renee Good."
"The videos that we have all seen, yourself included, does not match the false narrative from the federal government. In fact, you could hear the words, 'I am pulling out.' Moments before ICE decided to take the life of Renee Good."
"I dropped an F-bomb. They killed somebody. Which one of those is more inflammatory? I'm going with the killing somebody."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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