MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal officers fired tear gas on Monday to disperse a crowd in Minneapolis that had gathered in reaction to a car accident involving immigration agents, close to the site where a woman was shot and killed last week. Witnesses expressed outrage as they chanted 'cowards,' directed at the agents involved.
This incident occurred in the wake of heightened tensions following the death of Renee Good on January 7. In recent days, there has been an increase in immigration enforcement operations in the Minneapolis area, sparking numerous protests and vigils across the United States honoring Good and criticizing the handling of immigration policy under the previous Trump administration.
Minnesota's attorney general, along with the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, held a press conference to discuss the immigration operations, although details remain scant.
Meanwhile, local leaders are grappling with the aftermath of Good's death. Governor Tim Walz, along with his wife, visited a memorial for Good, who was fatally shot while driving her SUV. Officials from the Trump administration have defended the actions of the immigration agent involved, asserting that Good posed a threat—a claim that has drawn significant criticism from various quarters, particularly after video evidence of the encounter emerged.
Christian Molina, a U.S. citizen, reported that he had been followed by immigration agents in a separate incident and experienced a collision, expressing relief that he was not harmed. 'I'm glad they didn't shoot me or something,' Molina stated, highlighting the growing fear surrounding interactions with federal agents.
As tensions continue to escalate, authorities in Portland, Oregon, have also been involved in a separate shooting incident involving U.S. Border Patrol, resulting in charges against one individual. The FBI noted that footage of this event is lacking, contrasting sharply with the documented evidence of Good's tragic encounter.
