On January 7, 2026, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This incident, captured on video, has led to widespread protests in cities such as San Diego, Houston, and Philadelphia. The Minnesota Timberwolves, a professional basketball team, held a moment of silence for Good during a game shortly after the shooting.

Protests against ICE have become increasingly prevalent over the past year, with significant demonstrations occurring in Newark, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. These events reflect a growing discontent with ICE's practices, particularly in the context of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies. Public opinion has shifted notably against ICE, with many Americans expressing concerns about the agency's reliance on violence in its operations.

Polling data indicates a dramatic decline in ICE's approval ratings, dropping from a positive rating of +16 in February 2025 to -14 by November of the same year. A recent flash poll revealed a disapproval rate of 52%. This decline correlates with the implementation of more aggressive enforcement tactics, including a controversial directive for increased immigration arrests.

The backlash against ICE is part of a broader trend of declining support for Trump's immigration agenda. While initial support for deportations was relatively high, it has since fallen significantly, with a notable increase in the number of Americans holding strongly unfavorable views of ICE. A January 2025 poll showed that a majority of Americans opposed arrests at schools and churches, yet the administration continued these practices, leading to further public disapproval. Subsequent polling indicated that 66% of Americans opposed detaining citizens during raids, and 70% disapproved of the use of zip ties on children.

Support for abolishing ICE has reached an all-time high, with 42% of U.S. adults in favor of its elimination, compared to 29% in the summer of 2018. This shift is particularly pronounced among independents and some Republicans, indicating a growing consensus against the agency's existence. Concurrently, public approval for protests against ICE has increased, with 44% of respondents expressing support for such demonstrations, suggesting a significant change in public perception regarding the implications of ICE's enforcement tactics on communities and families.

In light of the recent shooting, Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have suggested that public safety might improve if law enforcement ceased its enforcement activities, arguing that such actions often escalate tensions and violence.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey clarified that the ICE agent was not run over during the incident, emphasizing the need for federal investigators to pursue the truth. The FBI is currently investigating the shooting, which has intensified scrutiny of ICE's role in urban areas and the implications of federal enforcement actions on local communities.

In related developments, protests have erupted nationwide following Good's death, reflecting a growing public outcry against federal enforcement practices. The situation raises questions about the militarization of immigration enforcement and its impact on human rights, as well as the need for accountability in law enforcement practices.