Minnesota shooting of Rene Good by ICE Agent begs the question “Could it happen here?”

By Ken Magri

“If they come for you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night.”

–American writer and civil rights advocate James Baldwin

Last spring, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, engaged in an aggressive in-state campaign to arrest and deport residents suspected of being undocumented immigrants across Northern California. Chico News & Review reported on one such deportation last May and published an “ICE Survival Guide” for Butte County in July, co-written with ChicoSol newspaper. One section of that guide included information and advice for legal observers about how to keep themselves safe while lawfully witnessing ICE raids and arrests.

But after the point-blank shooting of 37-year-old mother Rene Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE Deportation officer on Jan. 7, some feel the act of legally observing ICE activities is more dangerous than ever.

Could something like that happen here?

To many, the shooting of Ms. Good looked like an extra-judiciary killing of an American with no due process. In the days that followed, multiple ICE shootings and more violent incidents happened in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

On January 15, President Donald Trump threatened to invoke Section 333 of the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law which allows him to “take such measures as he considers necessary to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.”

Governor Tim Walz asked the federal government to “end this occupation in Minnesota,” observing his state’s residents are beyond “angry.” Walz then pleaded with Minnesotans not to “take the bait” by violently reacting.

Daniel Bernick is an educator and former Sacramentan who moved back to his native Minnesota six months ago. Compared to ICE operations he saw last summer throughout California’s Central Valley, Bernick thinks these ICE actions in the Twin Cities have escalated in a dramatic way.

“‘Minnesota nice’ is a real thing, but there has definitely been a loss of innocence here,” Bernick said. “Nobody likes seeing kids getting tackled by ICE agents at a high school. It’s crazy.”

How are Northern Californians reacting?

On the night of the Rene Good shooting, anti-ICE protesters showed up at the John Moss Federal Courthouse in downtown Sacramento. While their demonstration was by in large peaceful, a small group vandalized a security fence and car, and sprayed graffiti across the building’s facade.

That same night in Chico, an estimated crowd of 50 people held a vigil coordinated by the Chico Peace Alliance at downtown’s City Plaza. Bill Bynum, a 79-year-old Army veteran from Oroville, attended the vigil.

“It was peaceful and impromptu,” Bynum noted. “They only had a couple of hours to get the word out.”

Bynum is part of the newly formed Veterans Action Group, which he described as “a group of local veterans who have come together to both oppose the blatantly authoritarian actions of the present administration and the attacks on our beloved VA Administration.”

The vets say they are on-guard for what may come.

“In our view [President Trump] is setting up a shadow army that is beholding only to him, and we see it as a dangerous step towards fascism,” Bynum explained. “It is confusing, to say the least, that people don’t recognize just who these people represent.”

Bynum pointed out that different branches of law enforcement operate under different rules.

“The difference between ICE officers, the National Guard troops, local police officers, even Marines in Los Angeles, it all gets muddied and civilians lack the understanding to differentiate what their powers are and who is allowed to do what,” Bynum stressed.

Last Saturday, an estimated at 1,400 gathered at Chico’s Children’s Park and along the Esplanade for an “ICE Out for Good” protest, organized by the non-profit Indivisible Chico.

There was waving, honking, whistling and thumbs-ups from drivers during the event, according to attendees.

Indivisible Chico, working with the Re-Sisters group and Women’s March Chico, is now helping with the “Free America Walkout” and protest that’s planned for Tuesday, Jan 20 at 2 p.m.

As with the “ICE Out for Good,” this is a national call for groups to organize locally.

Sacramentans also protested ICE on January 10 as hundreds marched from the State Capitol’s west steps down J Street to Memorial Auditorium.

ICE protests regularly take place in Sacramento on weekends at two different sites, one being the ICE headquarters Downtown and the other at Del Paso Road and Natomas Boulevard.

Congressman Ami Bera, (D-Sacramento) told C-Span that ICE activities are “putting innocent individuals in harm’s way, so that’s got to be investigated.”

Bera decried how quickly ICE agents are hired and trained.

“The fact is, they’re recruiting folks that probably are not qualified to do this,” Bera argued. “Forty-seven days of training, you’re armed, you’re going out there in a very aggressive way.”

State Senator Scott Wiener (D, San Francisco) has written two new bills to limit such ICE actions in California. Last July, Wiener introduced SB627, the No Secret Police Act, which prevents ICE officers from masking themselves.

Governor Newsom signed that bill in September. It is now being challenged in federal court by the Trump Administration.

In November 2025, Wiener introduced SB747, the No Kings Act, which allows Californians to sue the government if ICE or any other federal agency violates their constitutional rights.

That allegedly happened last summer to George Reddy, a US citizen, veteran and resident of Camarillo. Reddy says that he was tear-gassed and held in a detention center by ICE for three days without being allowed a phone call, a lawyer or the ability to wash chemicals off himself. Under SB747, individuals like Reddy could sue the government for being illegal detained by ICE.

Is it still safe to legally observe ICE actions?

There are 73,000 people currently being held in ICE custody. However, CBS News reports that the Department of Homeland Security is aiming for a goal of 100,000 detainees.

While Americans continue to exercise their right to legally witness ICE roundups, they are advised to plan ahead and take precautions.

Before going out on the streets, legal observers should communicate to friends or loved ones about what they are doing. Set up emergency contacts who can help in case of arrest or detainment.

It’s important to understand that, as of mid-October, 90% of ICE arrests were people from Latin American countries, especially males between the ages of 25 and 40, according to NBC News. Those arrests reportedly include a number of people who were legal residents or citizens of the US.

For parents, make sure an emergency contact can pick up your children at school or home in case you are detained. Give your contact a signed letter stating that they have your permission.

For transgender individuals, if arrested, law enforcement may treat you differently. Transgender persons have reported being segregated from other arrested protesters or being placed in a cell that conforms to their assigned-at-birth gender. Take your legal identification even if the gender is stated differently.

For all people, do not wear contact lenses or eye makeup, as they can trap chemical irritants like teargas and pepper spray, causing great pain. Fleece clothing also retains chemicals and should be avoided.

How to stay safer while legally observing

The non-profit Physicians for Human Rights website advises wearing face masks, shatterproof glasses, good shoes for running and windbreakers or waterproof clothes.

In addition, take identification, water in a clear plastic bottle (unopened aluminum cans can be considered weapons), regular medications, cash or a credit card for bail and extra clothing in case of teargas. Carry everything in a backpack in case you need to run away from danger.

Observers in Minnesota now carry orange whistles like those used in the wilderness to call for help. Short whistle bursts communicate the presence of ICE. Long sustained whistles communicate an ICE detention taking place.

The whistles alert neighbors and potential witnesses, which pressure ICE agents to act with more restraint. But if ICE agents see the whistles as intimidating, they can make arrests. This has already happened in Minnesota, according to the Washington Post.

What ICE agents can do

On January 16, MS Now’s David Noriega reported that ICE agents have shot into cars at least 14 times, going back to the raids in Los Angeles last summer. In every case, DHS initially claimed the cars were being weaponized by the driver, even when they were sitting parked.

Do not interfere with any ICE operations and obey an ICE officer’s command whether you agree with it or not. Failure to do so could result in arrest or worse.

American citizens are not generally required to carry identification or “papers” that prove who they are. But many citizens were surprised when Secretary Noem stated on January 15, “we may be asking who they are and why they’re there, and having them validate their identity.”

ICE officers are allowed to detain or arrest any American citizens suspected of being undocumented immigrants or hindering ICE actions. If so, they will ask for identification.

Do not use face or fingerprint recognition on your cell phone. It can be opened, legally, using those features. Instead, use a password and be ready to shut the phone off completely if an ICE agent asks for it. You are not required to tell an ICE officer your password.

When filming active ICE operations, consider live streaming to protect yourself with witnesses and preserve a copy of the video.

Finally, do not possess anything that could make an arrest worse. This includes any type of weapon, illegal drugs and graffiti markers.