MINNEAPOLIS — Two fatal encounters involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis within three weeks have shaken the city and deepened national concern about the use of force by federal officers, the accuracy of federal statements, and the structural gaps in oversight of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The deaths of Renee Nicole Good, 36, and Alex Pretti, 37, have left families grieving, communities demanding answers, and lawmakers facing renewed scrutiny over how ICE operates and how Congress continues to fund the agency amid growing public alarm. In the aftermath of both killings, community members, civil‑rights advocates, and legal experts have openly stated that ICE, DHS leadership under Secretary Kristi Noem, and Congress must be held accountable for what they describe as an agency operating without sufficient oversight or restraint. The author shares this view and believes all three bear responsibility for allowing ICE to operate without adequate checks. Even in the midst of grief, many in Minneapolis say they are determined to turn heartbreak into action, insisting that accountability is not only necessary but achievable.

Good, a Minneapolis mother of two, was shot and killed on January 3 during a traffic stop conducted by federal immigration agents participating in a broader enforcement sweep. Federal officials initially claimed Good attempted to flee and struck an agent with her vehicle. Multiple witness videos later contradicted that account, showing her car stationary at the moment shots were fired. For Good’s family, the conflicting narratives have compounded their grief, leaving them searching for clarity about her final moments. Local authorities said federal agents restricted Minneapolis police from accessing the scene for nearly an hour, delaying evidence collection and complicating early investigative steps. Advocates say this delay underscores why they believe ICE must face stronger accountability measures. Supporters at her vigil said they hope her story becomes a catalyst for change, not another tragedy lost to bureaucracy.

On January 24, ICU nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot during a federal immigration operation near Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. Pretti had been recording agents detaining several individuals. A bystander video shows agents pepper‑spraying him, tackling him, and then an agent firing multiple shots at close range. Federal officials said Pretti was armed and posed a threat. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed Pretti was a lawful gun owner but said available footage does not show him drawing or pointing a weapon. Witnesses reported that Pretti appeared to be assisting a disoriented bystander moments before the confrontation escalated. As in Good’s case, state officials said federal agents restricted local investigators’ access to the scene. Pretti’s colleagues and loved ones say they are devastated, describing him as someone who dedicated his life to helping others. Many who gathered in his honor said they refuse to let his final moments define him — instead, they choose to lift up the compassion and courage he showed throughout his life.

In both shootings, statements from the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem were contradicted by accounts from witnesses at the scene and by publicly available video. DHS described both incidents as situations in which federal agents faced imminent threats. However, in the killing of Renee Good, bystander footage showed her vehicle stationary at the time shots were fired, conflicting with DHS claims that she attempted to flee and struck an agent. In the killing of Alex Pretti, DHS asserted that Pretti posed an armed threat, while witnesses and video did not show him drawing or pointing a weapon. These discrepancies have intensified the emotional toll on the families and communities involved, who say they feel caught between official statements and what they witnessed themselves. Civil‑rights groups have argued that these contradictions highlight the need for DHS leadership — including Secretary Noem — to face stronger accountability for the agency’s public statements and operational conduct. The author agrees with these calls for accountability. Many residents say that acknowledging the truth is the first step toward building a safer, more transparent future.

The two deaths have strained relations between Minneapolis officials and federal agencies. City leaders say they were not notified of the scope or timing of the federal operations, and state investigators have raised concerns about delayed access to evidence and inconsistent federal accounts. Legal experts note that while federal agents have broad authority during immigration operations, they remain bound by constitutional limits on the use of force. Civil‑rights attorneys have pointed to discrepancies between federal statements and video evidence in both cases, emphasizing the emotional and civic weight of two families losing loved ones within weeks. Many advocates say these tensions reflect a deeper structural problem: that ICE operates with too little external oversight and that Congress has not exercised its authority to rein in the agency’s practices. The author believes Congress has failed in its responsibility to ensure proper oversight. Still, community leaders say they believe change is possible when people refuse to look away.

ICE operates in a legal space between traditional policing and national security. It has broad federal authority but no civilian review boards, and many of its operations fall under national‑security classifications that limit public access to records. Oversight is split among several internal or semi‑internal entities — including the DHS Inspector General, the ICE Office of Detention Oversight, and the DHS Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman. None has full independence, subpoena power, or the ability to compel real‑time release of footage or operational logs. Local police cannot compel ICE to release body‑camera footage, preserve evidence, or surrender operational logs. Federal agents can control a crime scene even when they are the shooters, leaving state investigators dependent on federal cooperation. ICE does not have universal body‑camera requirements. It can classify footage as “sensitive” and withhold it indefinitely. In both Minneapolis cases, bystander video became the primary source of public information, leaving families and communities to piece together what happened through fragments rather than official transparency. Policy analysts say these structural gaps make it difficult to hold ICE accountable — and argue that Congress has the authority and responsibility to address them. The author maintains that Congress has failed to meet this responsibility. Yet many advocates say that naming these failures openly is the first step toward fixing them.

Civil‑rights organizations, legal scholars, and several policy institutes have stated in published reports that ICE’s authority, funding, and operational latitude are determined by Congress. These analyses note that Congress controls ICE’s budget, Congress defines ICE’s statutory powers, and oversight reforms require congressional action. At public demonstrations in Minneapolis following the deaths of Good and Pretti, some speakers argued that if members of Congress refuse to support oversight reforms, they should be replaced through the electoral process. This reflects the documented positions of those individuals and groups, not a consensus among officials. Policy analysts from institutions such as the Migration Policy Institute, the Brookings Institution, and Georgetown Law have similarly noted that federal agencies do not undergo structural change without congressional intervention. Many community members say that without congressional action, ICE will continue operating without meaningful checks — and that DHS leadership, including Secretary Noem, must also be held accountable for the agency’s conduct and public messaging. The author concurs with these assessments and believes accountability is overdue. Demonstrators say they are motivated not by despair, but by a belief that collective pressure can reshape federal systems that once felt untouchable. More of the nation is demanding answers.

The most recent DHS funding bill — H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 — passed the House on January 22, 2026, by a vote of 220–207. A YES vote supported continuing DHS operations under the current administration. The 220 YES votes consisted of 213 Republicans and 7 Democrats. The Democrats who voted YES were Caraveo (CO), Cuellar (TX), Davis (NC), Golden (ME), Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Peltola (AK), and Stanton (AZ). The remaining 213 YES votes were cast by Republican members as recorded in the official roll‑call. These votes have drawn attention because Congress is the only branch with the authority to limit, condition, or restructure DHS and ICE operations. The Minneapolis incidents have intensified scrutiny of members who supported continued funding without additional oversight requirements, especially among residents who feel the system failed two people in their community. Many demonstrators have argued that Congress must be held accountable for continuing to fund an agency they believe is operating without adequate safeguards. The author shares this view and believes Congress bears responsibility for enabling ICE’s current operational latitude. For many in the community, demanding accountability is not an act of anger but an act of hope — a belief that elected officials can and should do better.

Vigils for Good and Pretti have drawn hundreds of residents, healthcare workers, and community leaders. Good’s children attended a memorial outside City Hall, where community members embraced them and placed flowers in their mother’s honor. Pretti’s colleagues described him as a calm, steady presence in the ICU who often volunteered for the most difficult cases, and many said they are struggling to understand how someone who spent his life caring for others could lose his own life in such a violent encounter. Local lawmakers have urged the Department of Justice to open a civil‑rights investigation into both shootings. State officials say they will continue pressing for full access to evidence. Many residents say they want accountability not only for the agents involved, but also for the federal leadership and congressional decisions that shape ICE’s operations. The author agrees with these calls for accountability. At both vigils, speakers urged the crowd not to lose faith, saying that demanding justice is itself an act of community strength.

With two fatal encounters in rapid succession, Minneapolis faces mounting questions about the conduct of federal agents, the accuracy of official statements, and the mechanisms available to hold federal officers accountable. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have become emblematic of broader national concerns about ICE’s use of force and the structural gaps that allow federal agencies to operate with limited external scrutiny. For the families left behind, the grief is immediate and profound. For the community, the demand for clarity and accountability grows louder each day — directed not only at ICE, but also at DHS leadership and the members of Congress who continue to fund the agency. Across the nation, people believe that accountability is essential to preventing further tragedies. In Minneapolis, residents say they are committed to pushing forward together, convinced that even in moments of deep loss, collective action can lead to meaningful change. Both investigations remain open.