ICE Shootings of US Citizens Under Trump Spark Nationwide Outrage and Protests

The United States is facing a growing crisis in federal immigration enforcement as ICE and Border Patrol agents, operating under Operation Metro Surge, have been linked to multiple shootings and aggressive arrests involving both immigrants and American citizens. These incidents have sparked nationwide protests and renewed demands for accountability under the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

In Minneapolis, where thousands of federal agents were deployed, officers shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026, marking the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in the city within weeks. Video footage and eyewitness accounts have raised serious doubts about official claims that Pretti posed an immediate threat.

Earlier, on January 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three and legal observer. Independent investigators described the incident as excessive force, and an autopsy confirmed her death as a homicide. However, federal prosecutors declined to file charges, fueling public anger and distrust.

Civil rights groups, lawmakers, and community leaders have condemned these cases as evidence of a dangerous enforcement strategy that ignores basic human rights. Polls show most Americans believe the shooting of Renee Good was unjustified and that ICE’s current tactics are making communities less safe.

The controversy has also reached the international stage after Ecuador formally protested an ICE agent’s attempt to enter its consulate in Minneapolis, a move widely seen as a violation of diplomatic norms.

Amid mounting pressure, federal authorities reassigned Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, while lawmakers in several states, including California, have called for funding cuts unless stronger oversight is introduced. Reports of agents intimidating legal observers and threatening protesters have further intensified criticism.

These shootings and arrests reflect the broader impact of immigration policies under President Trump, which critics say have encouraged aggressive enforcement at the expense of constitutional rights. As protests continue and investigations move forward, many Americans are now questioning whether the government is protecting public safety or undermining it through unchecked federal power.