VERMONT January 15, 2026 – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released a video statement today criticizing the Trump administration’s response to the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis earlier this month.
In the nearly two-minute video posted to his official X account, Sanders described the incident as part of a broader pattern of authoritarianism. “Last week, an unarmed American citizen, Renee Good, was shot in the head by an ICE officer in broad daylight,” Sanders said. He accused the administration of lying by labeling Good a “domestic terrorist,” offering the officer “absolute immunity,” and escalating the situation by deploying thousands more ICE agents to the city instead of pursuing accountability.
Sanders further warned that President Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the U.S. military against American citizens in response to peaceful protests. “In other words, the Trump administration’s response to peaceful protest is a military takeover of a major American city,” he stated. “This is not only a disaster for Minneapolis, it is a terrible precedent for our country and the rule of law.”
The senator called for comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship, expressing solidarity with protesters. “The American people are sick and tired of masked ICE agents shooting people, pulling them from their cars, and deporting people who have lived peacefully in this country for decades,” Sanders said. He urged continued nonviolent opposition to what he called “Trump’s authoritarianism,” emphasizing that “real change has always come from ordinary people standing up, organizing, and demanding justice.”
Background on the Incident
The shooting occurred on January 7, 2026, during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three and award-winning poet, was killed by a single gunshot to the head. Authorities have released limited details, but some reports indicate the encounter began as a traffic stop or attempted arrest, with conflicting accounts about whether Good posed an immediate threat to the officer.
Officials have stated that the involved ICE agent suffered injuries, including internal bleeding, allegedly after being dragged by a vehicle. However, Sanders’ statement focused on the lack of accountability and the administration’s escalation, including increased ICE presence amid ongoing protests.
The video has garnered thousands of views and sparked heated debate online, with supporters praising Sanders for highlighting civil liberties concerns and critics accusing him of omitting key details about the encounter.
Sanders, the longest-serving independent in Congress and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, has long advocated for immigration reform and criticized aggressive enforcement tactics.
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