Full Breakdown
Lawsuits Target Trump Administration Over ICE Shooting of Renee Good
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Fatal ICE Shooting and Lawsuits
On January 7, 37-year-old Renee Good was shot three times by ICE officer Jonathan Ross while driving away from a protest in south-Minneapolis. She died at a nearby hospital. On October 1, Good’s partner Becca Good and her brother Brent Ganger filed two federal civil suits in the U.S. District Court for Minnesota: one seeking damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the other alleging a civil-rights conspiracy and naming Ross and senior Trump-administration officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, border czar Tom Homan, former acting ICE director Todd Lyons, former Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski, and ten unnamed agents.
Background: Operation Metro Surge and Immigration Enforcement
The shooting occurred during “Operation Metro Surge,” a winter deployment that sent roughly 3,000 immigration agents to Minnesota to arrest and deport undocumented migrants. State leaders and community groups condemned the operation as a militarized campaign against Somali and Hispanic neighborhoods. The surge was wound down in February after protests and political backlash.
Key Figures
- Renee Good – mother of three.
- Becca Good – partner and plaintiff.
- Brent Ganger – brother and co-plaintiff.
- Jonathan Ross – ICE officer who fired the shots.
- Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Tom Homan, Corey Lewandowski, Todd Lyons, Gregory Bovino – officials named in the conspiracy claim.
- Mary Moriarty – Hennepin County Attorney investigating possible state-law violations.
Timeline
- January 7 – Good is shot; video captures the encounter.
- January 7 – February – Operation Metro Surge continues, then ends.
- October 1 – Lawsuits filed.
- May 18 – Hennepin County Attorney’s Office files assault charges against a different ICE agent in a later shooting.
Data & Statistics
- At least 10 people died in encounters with immigration officers during President Trump’s second term.
- The Minneapolis surge deployed roughly 3,000 agents, described by officials as a “paramilitary” presence.
- The complaint cites the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act as the basis for alleging a coordinated conspiracy against Somali and Hispanic communities.
Official Statements & Responses
Federal officials defended Ross’s actions as justified use of force. DHS described the shooting as a defensive response to a perceived threat. Former Secretary Noem called Good’s death an “act of domestic terrorism” and said Ross acted after Good attempted to weaponize her vehicle. The Justice Department declined comment on the lawsuits. Mary Moriarty is conducting a separate state investigation; limited cooperation from the Justice Department has prompted Minnesota to sue for evidence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Federal narratives claim Good tried to run over Ross, prompting self-defense fire. Bystander video shows Good honking, briefly reversing, then driving away while officers gave mixed commands. Witnesses say Ross was not in the vehicle’s path when shots were fired. The DOJ’s internal investigation was halted, and no criminal charges have been filed against Ross. The complaint alleges agents refused medical aid to Good, a claim not confirmed by official reports.
What’s Next
The lawsuits seek a bench trial for the government claim and a jury trial for the conspiracy claim. Both cases are pending in federal court. Minnesota continues to pursue access to evidence, including the SUV and video recordings, through a separate lawsuit against the federal government. No hearing dates have been disclosed.