Renee Good, a review cited by Fox News Digital argues that similar public attention was not shown after other Minnesota residents were killed or seriously harmed in cases involving immigrants who, authorities said, lacked legal status.
Gov. Tim Walz posted “Rest in peace” on X alongside a photo from a memorial for Good, who federal officials said was shot and killed after striking an ICE agent with her car while she was interfering with immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis. Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have appeared publicly since her death, criticizing the Trump administration and ICE and sharing tributes online.
Fox News Digital reported it could not find evidence of comparable news conferences, vigils, or public expressions of outrage from Walz, Frey, or Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan following several other deaths in recent years that authorities linked to immigrants without legal status.
Cases cited in the report
The article points to multiple incidents, including:
- Victoria Eileen Harwell (August 2024): A Minnesota mother killed in a car crash after being struck by an intoxicated Ecuadoran national in north Minneapolis, according to the report. ICE later arrested the man, German Llangari Inga, in May 2024, saying Hennepin County declined to honor a detainer and released him twice.
- Hallie Helgeson and Brady Heiling (last year): Helgeson, 18, and Heiling, 19, were killed in Wisconsin when a vehicle traveling the wrong way struck them head-on. The driver, the report said, was an intoxicated Honduran national in the country illegally, citing DHS. The story includes details from Helgeson’s obituary noting her church involvement, work, and organ donation.
- America Mafalda Thayer (2021): Thayer, 55, was murdered by her boyfriend, Alexis Saborit-Viltres, identified in the report as a Cuban national, after she told him she wanted to end the relationship. The article quotes a friend describing Thayer as upbeat and “a spitfire.”
The report also mentions other harm, including a 2021 case in which a St. Paul landlord was raped, identified as being committed by Mexican national Rolando Lopez-Meneses, citing TwinCities.com.
Political criticism and responses
Fox News Digital included sharp criticism from Republican figures and candidates, including Adam Schwarze, a former Navy SEAL and GOP U.S. Senate candidate, who argued Minnesota DFL leaders show “selective outrage” and called for new leadership.
Retired Minnesota State Patrol Lt. John Nagel, running for Congress against Rep. Ilhan Omar, echoed that argument, saying public responses vary depending on whether a tragedy fits a political narrative.
The outlet reported it contacted Walz, Frey, and Flanagan asking whether their offices could point to an example of publicly mourning a Minnesotan killed or harmed by an immigrant without legal status, and said it did not receive a response.
DHS comments and ICE messaging
The article also highlights statements from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who said Walz and Frey “refuse to cooperate with ICE” and claimed that nearly 470 “criminal illegal aliens” had been released in Minnesota. McLaughlin said DHS is prioritizing public safety and pointed to the VOICE office as a resource for victims and families.
In a separate section, the story references ICE releasing a list of criminal arrests during a surge in Minnesota, describing it as the “worst of the worst.”
Frey interview mention
The report says Frey was asked about Harwell during an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” and that he responded by reiterating his view that ICE has overstepped in Minneapolis, without specifically mentioning Harwell.
The article closes with commentary from Dale Wilcox of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, who argued that sanctuary-style policies prioritize immigrants without legal status over U.S. citizens and said leaders should focus first on Americans’ safety.
