A 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three died instantly when an ICE agent fired through her windshield as she monitored federal immigration operations from her car in south Minneapolis. Renee Nicole Good, serving as a legal observer, was killed on January 7, 2026, in a 40-second encounter that has ignited a fierce federal-state clash.
Two States File Constitutional Challenge
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison launched an unprecedented lawsuit the following Sunday, on January 12, accusing the Trump administration of an unconstitutional “federal invasion” through its immigration crackdown. Joined by Minneapolis and St. Paul, the 80-page federal complaint targets Operation Metro Surge and names the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and Border Patrol as defendants. It seeks a temporary restraining order to halt the operations. Ellison charged that the administration is “persecuting the state of Minnesota because of our political beliefs.”
Operation Metro Surge stands as the largest immigration enforcement effort in U.S. history, with over 2,000 armed federal agents deployed to the Twin Cities since December 2025. The Trump administration plans to add 1,000 more Border Patrol agents, pushing total personnel to record levels. By mid-January, agents had made more than 2,000 arrests in Minneapolis-St. Paul. A former law enforcement official called the scale “extraordinary.”
The lawsuit centers on alleged constitutional breaches, including violations of the Tenth Amendment through commandeering of state resources, First Amendment retaliation against political views, and equal sovereignty by singling out Minnesota. Minneapolis police logged over 3,000 overtime hours in three days managing fallout from federal actions, at a taxpayer cost exceeding $2 million. State leaders argue this forces local forces to handle federal duties, infringing on reserved powers over policing and safety.
Conflicting Accounts and Enforcement Tactics Under Fire
Federal officials labeled Good a “domestic terrorist.” Secretary Noem said Good “weaponized her vehicle” and tried to run over an officer. President Trump echoed this, describing her actions as a “violently, willfully and viciously” attempt to kill an agent. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed these claims as “bullshit,” calling the shooting a “reckless abuse of power.” Video evidence reviewed by state officials contradicts the federal account, fueling protests in Minneapolis and beyond that demand accountability and an end to militarized tactics.
Armed, masked agents have swept through neighborhoods in military-style raids, conducting warrantless arrests, using excessive force, and entering schools, churches, and hospitals without adhering to DHS protocols. Schools locked down repeatedly, disrupting thousands of students. The suit details racial profiling, with detentions based on perceived ethnicity in Somali and Hispanic communities. One Somali American man, Mubashir, was arrested despite offering proof of citizenship. Minneapolis police handled about 20 cases resembling kidnappings by federal agents. The complaint aims to ban roving patrols, biometric scans, and actions at sensitive sites without probable cause.
Fear has gripped immigrant areas, shuttering businesses, confining families indoors, and keeping children from school. Emergency services strain under the load, and community ties fray. State reports describe a paralyzing atmosphere affecting thousands, with mounting economic and social tolls.
Federal Pushback and Unprecedented Legal Battle
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called the lawsuit “baseless,” asserting, “We have the Constitution on our side on this, and we look forward to proving that in court.” She accused state leaders of prioritizing politics over safety and justified the surge as needed to probe fraud in federal programs, blaming Minnesota’s sanctuary policies.
Minnesota contends the crackdown retaliates against its Democratic leadership and sanctuary stance, hitting it harder than comparable states and breaching equal sovereignty. Minneapolis shoulders extra costs like diverted services and business shutdowns, viewing it as unreimbursed commandeering.
Illinois filed a matching suit on January 12 over Chicago operations, signaling multi-state pushback. Legal experts see the cases testing federal immigration power against state rights, with Tenth and First Amendment claims potentially groundbreaking. As of January 13, the restraining order request pends in court.
This escalating dispute could redefine federal-state boundaries, with prolonged litigation possibly reaching the Supreme Court and influencing enforcement nationwide.
Sources:
“Minnesota and the Twin Cities sue the federal government to stop Trump’s immigration crackdown.” PBS NewsHour, January 12, 2026.
“Minnesota sues Trump to block ICE agent surge in Minneapolis.” Politico, January 12, 2026.
“Key claims from Minnesota and Illinois’ new lawsuits challenging Trump’s immigration crackdown.” CNN, January 13, 2026.
“Renee Nicole Good: Mother of 3 who loved to sing and dance killed by ICE agent.” CNN, January 8, 2026.
State of Minnesota Attorney General lawsuit filing, January 11, 2026; Department of Homeland Security official statements; Minneapolis city government press releases.