Family of Minneapolis ICE Shooting Victim Files Dual Lawsuits Against Federal Government

The relatives of Renee Good, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis last January, filed two civil actions on Thursday. One suit targets the United States government, claiming the officer, Jonathan Ross, violated agency policy and the Fourth Amendment by using excessive force, and seeks damages for Good’s family and her partner, Becca Good, who witnessed the incident. The complaint says Ross shot Good multiple times in her car despite video evidence contradicting officials’ claim that she had weaponized the vehicle.

The second filing alleges a coordinated conspiracy by federal officials to suppress civil-rights protections in Minnesota, invoking the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. It asserts that the immigration enforcement surge was intended to target Somali and Hispanic communities and to silence observers of the campaign. Law professor Rachel Moran described the claim as “very unusual” and noted that it reverses the administration’s typical use of conspiracy charges against protesters.

Attorney Ben Berkman said the first lawsuit addresses the actions of the agents on the street, while the second challenges the decision to place those agents there, stating that “no mask, no badge and no title in the administration puts anyone above that law.” The complaint names additional officials, including White House adviser Stephen Miller and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as part of the alleged scheme.

The White House responded that it will “vigorously defend these baseless civil lawsuits.” Federal authorities have not released the identities of ten agents present at the scene, who were reportedly wearing masks. No criminal charges have been filed, and both federal and state investigations remain pending.

At a press conference, Good’s brother Brent Ganger expressed frustration over the lack of accountability, saying the family will not remain silent. Becca Good, appearing publicly for the first time since the shooting, spoke about her late partner’s character and the challenges of raising their three children alone.