New Jersey Protests Erupt After Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis Raises National Alarm
The Minneapolis shooting of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer sparked impassioned protests and vigils in New Jersey and increased hostility to federal immigration enforcement across the state. The murder of 37-year-old mother of three Renee Nicole Good has galvanized immigrant rights supporters, who say it highlights deeper issues with American immigration procedures.
Two events were staged in Newark on Thursday night to honor Good and protest ICE nationally. Both episodes conveyed fear and fury about what protestors call harsh and deadly enforcement techniques, despite their distance and tone.
Nearly 200 people attended a quiet but emotional Party for Socialism & Liberation protest in downtown Newark’s Military Park. ICE-bashing protesters held signs and chanted. A widely shared spectator video of the Minneapolis incident showed Good trying to escape rather than threatening authorities, according to many participants.
Federal authorities’ answer was rejected by rally speakers. Protest organizers told the crowd the footage undermines the officer’s self-defense claims. One speaker warned that what happened to Good could happen to anyone, underlining the terror many immigrants and their families feel when confronting federal authorities.
These assertions are fiercely denied by federal officials. In a televised press conference hours after the incident, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the ICE officer acted to protect himself and others. Good was part of a group taunting cops all day and tried to hit one with her vehicle when ICE agents were freeing a trapped enforcement vehicle, she said. Noem called it “domestic terrorism”—an premeditated attempt to cause serious harm.
ICE said the shooting was under review and did not respond to public claims.
Military Park was filled with chants, but a calmer, more serious gathering took place near Newark Bay outside Delaney Hall, a privately run immigrant detention facility that has come under fire amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Pax Christi Catholics held a prayer vigil for Good there. Leading English and Spanish prayers for justice, healing, and accountability, religious leaders lit candles.
The vigil also raised worries about Delaney Hall, which has been the location of previous controversy, including ICE’s conclusion that a detainee died naturally. Despite the frigid evening, volunteers provided coats, blankets, and warm drinks to families visiting detained loved ones.
Visitors included relatives of detainees who said the Minneapolis tragedy increased their anxieties. One U.S. Army veteran waiting to meet a jailed family member told reporters that federal officials’ tactics would not have been acceptable in foreign operations. He questioned ICE officers’ street training and raised concerns about civilian deaths.
The protests occurred as New Jersey’s political leadership increasingly opposed federal immigration laws. Phil Murphy, the outgoing governor, called the shooting horrible and immoral. He made these remarks after state lawmakers passed measures to limit federal immigration enforcement and safeguard immigrant communities.
Despite strong emotions, both Newark gatherings concluded peacefully. Police saw downtown protesters calmly disperse in the early evening from afar.
Renee Nicole Good’s death has touched many New Jerseyans. It has revived debates about federal immigration enforcement, force, and public safety vs civil rights. Community leaders and government officials are under pressure to address public concerns about immigration law enforcement and its cost as official investigations continue.
Sources
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Office of the Governor of New Jersey
