NEW YORK CITY, NY January 7, 2026 – New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani issued a sharp denunciation on January 7, 2026, following the fatal shooting of a woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, describing the incident as a “murder” and part of ongoing “cruelty” in federal immigration enforcement.
In a post on X, Mayor Mamdani stated: “This morning, an ICE agent murdered a woman in Minneapolis—only the latest horror in a year full of cruelty. As ICE attacks our neighbors across America, it is an attack on us all. New York stands with immigrants today, and every day that follows.”
The shooting occurred earlier that day in south Minneapolis during an immigration-related operation amid heightened federal enforcement actions. The victim was identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a Twin Cities mother, wife, poet, and writer. Her mother described her as “an amazing human being” who was “extremely compassionate” and had spent her life caring for others.
Federal authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security, claimed the agent acted in self-defense, alleging Good attempted to ram law enforcement officers with her vehicle after agents became stuck in snow and were impeded by a crowd. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as involving an “attempt to kill or cause bodily harm to agents,” labeling it “an act of domestic terrorism.”
However, eyewitness videos circulating widely online show Good’s white SUV moving slowly through a group of surrounded unmarked vehicles and agents, with no clear high-speed ramming. Critics, including local officials and protesters, disputed the federal narrative, arguing the use of deadly force was unjustified. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey reportedly demanded federal agents “get out of Minneapolis,” accusing them of undermining city safety.
The incident triggered immediate protests at the scene on Portland Avenue and East 34th Street, with crowds chanting “Say her name! Renee Good!” and calling for accountability. Demonstrations continued into the evening, drawing national attention to tensions over mass deportation efforts.
Mayor Mamdani’s statement underscores New York City’s longstanding sanctuary policies and solidarity with immigrant communities, positioning the city in opposition to federal actions seen by some as aggressive. The shooting marks one of the first high-profile lethal incidents tied to renewed immigration crackdowns in 2026.
Investigations by federal and local authorities are ongoing, with conflicting accounts fueling debate over the justification for the agent’s actions.
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