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The family of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an immigration agent in Minneapolis in January, has filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration. The family accuses federal officials of using excessive force and acting in violation of the Constitution.
Good, 37, was shot on Jan. 7 in Minnesota during federal immigration operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer Jonathan Ross. In lawsuits filed Thursday, her family is seeking damages and a jury trial.
What do the lawsuits say?
The lawsuits allege that Ross and senior Trump administration officials violated Good’s civil rights. The filings also claim that a large-scale operation called “Metro Surge” contributed to the circumstances that led to her death.
According to the lawsuits, Renee Good and her wife, Becca Good, stopped their car after seeing immigration officers patrolling the streets. Renee Good honked the horn to alert neighbors, while her wife filmed the operation on her phone.
Video of the shooting shows Good’s car briefly reversing before she turned the vehicle and tried to drive away. Ross then fired at the car, killing Good.
The family’s lawsuits describe Good as a mother of three and a poet. The filings also state that she was not the target of a federal investigation.
Administration’s position and investigation
The White House has called the lawsuits baseless and said the Trump administration would vigorously defend itself in court. The Department of Homeland Security has defended Ross and other immigration officers, saying the use of force was justified in dangerous situations. Ross has not publicly commented on the shooting.
Good’s killing sparked widespread protests in Minnesota against federal immigration enforcement. The “Metro Surge” operation ended in February, while President Donald Trump has continued to defend his immigration policies.
According to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Justice initially blocked federal prosecutors in Minneapolis from investigating the agents involved in the incident, prompting several prosecutors to resign. No agent has been charged in connection with Good’s death.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is separately investigating Good’s death and the killing of Alex Pretti, another U.S. citizen who was shot by immigration officers in Minneapolis in late January. The investigation has reportedly been complicated by a lack of cooperation from federal agencies. Minnesota has sued the Trump administration to gain access to evidence collected at the shooting scenes.
