Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is facing sharp criticism from former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director John Sandweg over her remarks following a fatal shooting involving ICE agents in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
The death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good has reignited a nationwide argument over the use of force, immigration enforcement tactics, and the impact of heated political messaging.
The incident underscores widening divisions over how federal law enforcement operates in major U.S. cities—especially as immigration crackdowns continue across the country.
What to Know
Authorities say Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis during an operation connected to ongoing immigration and fraud enforcement in the city.
Video shared by bystanders and on social media appears to show ICE officers approaching Good’s vehicle and ordering her to exit. Moments later, an officer fired at close range as she seemingly attempted to drive away. Good’s vehicle then crashed a short distance away.
Officials allege Good tried to run over agents.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote on X that ICE officers were conducting “targeted operations” when “rioters began blocking” them, and that Good “weaponized her vehicle” in an attempt to run over officers—calling it “an act of domestic terrorism.”
McLaughlin also said the agent fired “defensive shots,” arguing the officer feared for his life, the safety of other law enforcement personnel, and the public.
Noem echoed that framing, describing the incident as “domestic terrorism” and saying the driver was trying to run agents over and ram them with her vehicle. She said the officer fired defensively to protect himself and others nearby.
Speaking to CNN, Sandweg—who served during the Obama administration—said Noem’s comments were premature and reckless.
“I find that to be an incredibly irresponsible statement,” Sandweg said, arguing that early reports—even within a federal department—are often incomplete or wrong. He emphasized that investigators, not political leaders, should determine what happened and whether the actions meet any legal definition of domestic terrorism.
Sandweg said Noem’s remarks do a “disservice” to the agency, the deceased, and Good’s family, and warned they could undermine DHS credibility. He added he would have preferred language signaling a careful review, such as: “We’re going to take a good, hard look at this.”
Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey also told CNN that initial information is frequently unreliable, saying officials should wait for verified facts before using loaded terms like “domestic terrorism.”
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday that he watched a clip of the incident and described it as “horrible,” claiming the driver ran over an ICE officer and that the agent shot her in self-defense. Trump added that the situation is being studied, and blamed what he called “the Radical Left” for escalating attacks on law enforcement and ICE agents.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, posting on X on Wednesday, said he had seen the video and urged people not to believe “this propaganda machine,” adding that the state would ensure a full and fair investigation to deliver accountability and justice.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also on X on Wednesday, called Noem “a stone-cold liar” and said there was “nothing to suggest” the shooting of an unarmed woman was justified, urging a full criminal investigation.
What Happens Next
The shooting prompted immediate protests in Minneapolis and intensified calls from critics to limit federal law enforcement interventions in U.S. cities. Investigations into the incident are expected to determine whether the use of force was justified and what charges, if any, may follow.
