Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a blistering rebuke of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, warning that the agency has “become what we feared most for a long time.”
Speaking to reporters outside the Capitol, Ocasio-Cortez said the killing represents a dangerous evolution of ICE’s power. “This has now become what we feared most about ICE for a long time: that it would be used as an anti-civilian force with no accountability,” she said. “At the end of the day, what we saw today was a murder, and murders in cold blood need to be prosecuted.”
The outrage from the left was swift and intense, with several Democrats signaling they are prepared to use every leverage point available, including the threat of a government shutdown, to impose structural reforms on the agency. Rep. Pramila Jayapal accused ICE of acting as “illegal killers,” calling the agency a “rogue force” that should not continue receiving federal funding without sweeping accountability measures. Rep. Ro Khanna echoed the sentiment, arguing that the agent involved should be arrested and that Congress must end “hundreds of billions of dollars going to a lawless agency.”
Republicans, however, defended ICE and urged caution as investigations unfold. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer praised the agency, saying “our brave ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities from dangerous criminals.” Former ICE acting director and current border adviser Tom Homan similarly defended the agency’s conduct, telling CBS News he has not seen ICE act outside of policy. “There’ll be an investigation. They’ll be held accountable,” he said, adding that it would be “unprofessional” to make judgments before all evidence is reviewed.
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the shooting occurred after Good “weaponized her vehicle” and attempted to run down officers, prompting an agent to fire “defensive shots.” But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sharply rejected that explanation, saying after viewing the video, “that is b—s—.” Witnesses also told NBC News that Good appeared to be attempting to flee when officers opened fire.
The investigation remains ongoing, but the political battle over ICE’s power and accountability is already intensifying — and likely to dominate the coming weeks in Washington.
