The family of Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on January 7, has filed two federal lawsuits against the U.S. government and multiple federal officials. The lawsuits allege wrongful death, civil rights violations, and a conspiracy to interfere with civil rights, seeking damages and a jury trial.
Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who fired the fatal shots, is named in one lawsuit, while the second lawsuit targets White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and other senior Trump administration officials. The complaints were filed by Good’s partner, Becca Good, and her brother, Brent Ganger, nine months after the shooting.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
The lawsuits allege that federal agents acted negligently and violated Good’s civil rights during a confrontation that was captured on cellphone video. According to the complaints, Good was shot as she attempted to drive away from the scene in her SUV. The lawsuits seek damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act and allege battery, assault, false imprisonment, emotional distress, and negligence.
One lawsuit invokes the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, a Reconstruction-era law designed to combat organized violence and intimidation, arguing that senior officials conspired to target Somali and Hispanic communities in Minneapolis. The lawsuits claim the operation, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, was part of a broader effort to intimidate protesters and silence opposition to federal immigration enforcement.
Deeper Dive & Context
The Shooting Incident
On January 7, Good was fatally shot by ICE Officer Jonathan Ross during a protest against federal immigration operations in Minneapolis. Video footage shows Good in her SUV, with Ross approaching the vehicle. Witnesses allege Ross ordered Good to exit the car before firing multiple shots as she attempted to drive away. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension later determined that Good did not strike Ross with her vehicle, contradicting initial claims by federal officials that she had "weaponized" her car.
Federal Response & Official Statements
At the time of the shooting, Trump administration officials labeled Good a "domestic terrorist", and the Department of Justice barred federal prosecutors in Minneapolis from investigating the incident. This directive led to the resignation of at least six prosecutors in protest. The Department of Homeland Security and the White House have not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuits.
Operation Metro Surge & Broader Context
The shooting occurred amid Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative in which 3,000 immigration agents were deployed to Minneapolis to conduct street patrols and deportation sweeps. The operation followed allegations of fraud involving Somali nationals and triggered massive protests across the city. Days after Good’s death, an ICE agent shot and wounded Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan delivery driver, and two weeks later, another agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, an American nurse working for the Veterans Affairs Department.
Legal & Political Fallout
The lawsuits represent one of the first major civil actions against the Trump administration for its immigration enforcement policies. The Supreme Court is also set to rule on whether detained non-citizens should have the right to seek bond hearings. Good’s family has framed the lawsuits as a pursuit of accountability and justice, with Brent Ganger stating, "What happened to her on January 7th and what has happened to far too many people in the last year is not what America is about."
The Justice Department has not yet responded to the lawsuits, and no charges have been filed against Ross or other officials involved in the operation.