Police arrest protesters at Minneapolis federal building on 1-month anniversary of woman’s death

Dozens Arrested at Protest Marking One Month Since Immigration Officer Killed Minneapolis Woman

Police arrested at least 42 protesters Saturday outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis during a demonstration marking the one-month anniversary of Renee Good’s death at the hands of a federal immigration officer.

The confrontation began when some protesters among the scores gathered started throwing bottles, sex toys, and chunks of ice at police officers guarding the federal property. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office reported that a deputy was struck in the head and a squad vehicle’s windshield was smashed during the incident, prompting authorities to declare the gathering unlawful.

While many demonstrators dispersed after police ordered the crowd to leave, approximately 100 remained, creating a standoff with deputies, state troopers, and conservation officers before the arrests were made.

The protest is part of growing tensions in Minnesota over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement actions that have led to two civilian deaths in Minneapolis within weeks of each other.

Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed on January 7 when federal immigration officers surrounded her Honda Pilot SUV on a residential street near her home. Bystander video showed an officer approaching the stopped vehicle and demanding Good open the door while grabbing the handle. When the SUV began moving forward, another officer standing in front of the vehicle drew his weapon and immediately fired at close range.

The Trump administration has characterized Good as a “domestic terrorist” who attempted to run over an officer, a description that state and local officials have firmly rejected.

Just seventeen days later, on January 24, Alex Pretti was killed during a confrontation with immigration officers. Bystander video captured approximately six officers taking Pretti to the ground. When one officer noticed Pretti’s legally-carried firearm and shouted “He’s got a gun,” two officers opened fire.

These deaths have sparked nationwide outrage and intensified criticism of the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota.

While the protests unfolded downtown, hundreds gathered at a Minneapolis park for a separate memorial event honoring Good and Pretti. Chief Arvol Looking Horse, a Lakota spiritual leader, conducted a ceremony for attendees holding signs and American flags on the snow-covered field. The event included music and poetry to commemorate the two individuals who have become central figures in the increasingly polarized immigration debate.

Event organizers characterized the recent immigration enforcement activities across Minnesota as a “federal occupation,” echoing criticisms from community leaders and local officials.

The escalating tensions prompted Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, to announce on Wednesday that the federal government would withdraw approximately 700 immigration officers from Minnesota – roughly a quarter of those deployed to the state. The announcement came after state and local officials agreed to increase cooperation by turning over arrested immigrants to federal authorities. However, Homan did not specify when the administration would completely end its enhanced enforcement operations in Minnesota.

In a statement released Saturday, Renee Good’s wife, Becca Good, emphasized the broader impact of aggressive immigration enforcement beyond the high-profile deaths.

“You know my wife’s name and you know Alex’s name, but there are many others in this city being harmed that you don’t know – their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don’t look like mine,” she said. “They are neighbors, friends, co-workers, classmates. And we must also know their names. Because this shouldn’t happen to anyone.”

The ongoing controversy highlights the deep divisions surrounding immigration policy and enforcement tactics as the Trump administration continues its hardline approach to immigration enforcement across the country.