Justice Department Declines Civil-Rights Probe in Minneapolis ICE Shooting as Multiple Prosecutors Resign
Deputy Attorney General says DOJ sees no basis for a civil-rights probe into Renee Good’s killing; FBI and ICE investigations continue amid multiple prosecutors’ resignations.
Overview
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the Civil Rights Division will not open a criminal civil-rights probe into the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer.
The FBI continues its investigation while ICE’s Office of Public Responsibility conducts an internal review; officials assert the officer acted in self-defense amid disputed accounts.
At least six prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota resigned, including Joe Thompson, citing objections to DOJ directives and exclusion of state investigative authorities.
Critics say DOJ’s refusal to deploy the Civil Rights Division departs from past practice of rapid federal civil-rights probes into law-enforcement shootings, fueling local anger and legal scrutiny.
Minnesota leaders decried departures and warned of politicization; the resignations and DOJ stance intensified debates over accountability, jurisdiction and public trust in investigations.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a contest between federal authority and local officials, emphasizing politicization of the DOJ. They foreground resignations and officials’ condemnations, juxtapose DOJ denials with vivid video descriptions and the disputed DHS “weaponized” claim, and humanize the victim—together producing skepticism about federal handling and calls for independent review.
Sources (10)
FAQ
On January 7, 2026, 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis while in her SUV stopped perpendicular to traffic on Portland Avenue. Ross approached her vehicle, and after agents tried her door, she began driving forward slowly as he fired three shots through the windshield and window.[1]
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated there is currently no basis for a criminal civil-rights investigation into the shooting.
At least four to six federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota resigned, citing concerns over DOJ directives, exclusion of state authorities, and the investigation focusing on Good's background rather than the officer's actions.[1]
The FBI continues its investigation, and ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an internal review, with officials asserting the officer acted in self-defense.
Republicans and Trump officials claim Good tried to run over the officer, calling her a 'lunatic' agitator, while Democrats and eyewitnesses say she was pulling away slowly when Ross stepped in front and shot point-blank; videos show no clear injury to the agent.[1]
History
3 sources