The family of Renee Good, an American woman killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis this January, has filed two lawsuits against the US government and members of the Trump administration.
Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had recently relocated to Minnesota, was fatally shot on January 7 during a traffic stop that immigration authorities described as occurring after she allegedly attempted to attack officers. Witnesses, however, dispute the claim that she posed a violent threat.
The legal filings were announced by Good’s partner, Becca Good, and her brother, Brent Ganger. Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Becca Good addressed the public for the first time since the shooting, stating, “The whole world had to watch as our entire universe was destroyed. We were all robbed,” while describing the trauma inflicted on their children.
The first lawsuit, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleges that the government is liable for battery, assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. It argues that the immigration operation fostered “an unprecedented environment for state-sponsored violence,” according to family attorney Antonio Romanucci.
The second suit targets the specific individuals involved in the enforcement action, including ICE officer Jonathan Ross, who fired the shots, alongside senior Trump administration figures such as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and White House border chief Tom Homan. The complaint alleges a conspiracy among federal officials and private actors to interfere with civil rights.
“Our government has become a grave and mortal threat to its own citizens,” Romanucci said during the press conference.
President Donald Trump initially attributed Good’s death to her own actions, claiming just hours after the incident that she had “violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE officer.” Weeks later, he characterized the death as a “tragedy” and noted that agents sometimes make mistakes.
Good’s death ignited nationwide protests, which escalated after another Minneapolis resident, Alex Pretti, was killed by immigration agents on January 24. Following the unrest, hundreds of federal agents were withdrawn from the city, and Greg Bovino, the official in charge of the operation, was removed from his post.
Despite these changes, Ganger expressed frustration that no progress has been made. “Since her death no meaningful change has occurred,” he said. “Our family is waiting and we will wait no longer.”
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