I wish I could say that I am surprised an ICE agent would shoot and kill an American citizen.
My only surprise is that it did not happen before now.
But now that it has happened, let there be no doubt that ICE is a paramilitary organization who sees fit to use violence as a first resort. Consequently, aside from removing people deemed by the Trump Administration as undesirable, killing American citizens is now part of ICE's job description.
If there is a situation, they will be sure to escalate it. There is no incentive nor reward for restraint.
President Trump gave Renee Good, the murdered mother of three, the Rob Reiner treatment describing her as "a professional agitator" who "violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE Officer".
In all likelihood, Renee Good was monitoring ICE activity. Perhaps she was blocking traffic. In that case, ICE could have enlisted the assistance of local law enforcement. Whatever the case, she did nothing which warranted being publicly executed in broad daylight.
To compound ICE cruelty was their incompetence as Good was simultaneously told to leave the scene and get out of the car. After she was shot, ICE prevented Good from receiving medical aid.
As with George Floyd more than five years ago, none of this had to happen. Both situations could have been deescalated. Instead, lethal state violence against civilians has visited Minneapolis once more.
Unfortunately, I do not believe this will be the last time ICE kills an American citizen. And when they do, the Trump Administration has a readymade playbook. Kristi Noem will accuse the victim of "domestic terrorism" while VP Vance will blame the victim as he today with Good calling her death "a tragedy of her own making."
Under the circumstances, I can only hope that Minnesota brings murder and criminally negligent homicide charges against the ICE agents involved. Of course, there is no guarantee of a conviction. But ICE's actions today which led to the death of Renee Good cannot go unanswered.
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