Family Sues U.S. Government Over Killing by Federal Agent

The family of Renee Good held a news conference in Minneapolis after filing civil lawsuits against the U.S. government and several immigration officials. The lawsuits stem from the death of Renee Good, who was killed by a federal agent in January during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement activities in Minnesota.

Renee Good’s family has filed two lawsuits. The first lawsuit, targeting the United States government, claims it as a wrongful death case. It argues that Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer responsible for Good’s death, violated agency policies and the Fourth Amendment by using excessive force. The case seeks damages for the suffering experienced by Renee Good and emotional distress endured by her partner, Becca Good, who witnessed the incident.

Ross shot Renee Good multiple times while she was in her car. Initially, federal authorities accused her of weaponizing her vehicle. However, video evidence surfaced contradicting those claims. The second lawsuit, less common in nature, accuses federal officials of conspiring to interfere with civil rights in Minnesota. It suggests Good’s death resulted from a concerted immigration crackdown targeting Somali and Hispanic communities. The suit emphasizes a systematic effort to suppress those who documented and opposed these measures. It cites the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 as a legal foundation.

Rachel Moran, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas, referred to the second lawsuit as unusual. She noted that the Trump administration had frequently employed conspiracy charges against protestors of its immigration policies. The lawyers for Good argue that government officials themselves engaged in an unlawful conspiracy.

Ben Berkman, one of the attorneys for the Good family, explained that the first lawsuit addresses Renee Good’s tragic fate on a Minneapolis street. The second lawsuit seeks to uncover the motivations behind the presence of federal officers on the street that day.

“It reaches the agent who fired those shots at Renee and it reaches every official who put him on the street that day,” Berkman said, stating that no title or position should exempt individuals from accountability.

The legal actions target not just Ross but also key figures such as White House adviser Stephen Miller and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. NPR requested comments from the Department of Homeland Security but received no response. Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Lauren Bis stated their intention to vigorously defend against the lawsuits.

The case involves ten additional federal agents, referred to as John Does, whose identities remain undisclosed as they wore masks during the incident. The lack of criminal charges against federal officials further highlights the absence of accountability. DHS has given little indication of investigating Good’s death and another recent shooting in Minneapolis. Nine individuals have died at the hands of immigration agents since Trump resumed office, according to The Trace.

State and local officials in Minnesota have not filed charges nor provided findings of their investigation into the incident. A Hennepin County spokesperson mentioned that authorities are reviewing evidence and will eventually communicate their decision. At the news conference, Good’s family expressed frustration over the lack of action.

“The fact that there’s been no accountability, no investigation, no expression of condolence, no change in policy is completely mind-blowing,” commented Brent Ganger, Good’s brother. “We will not wait any longer. The time is absolutely now for accountability.”

Brent Ganger, alongside his mother Donna, testified before Congress regarding fatal shootings by federal immigration officers. Becca Good, Renee’s partner, spoke at the conference, reflecting on Renee’s loving nature and the profound loss she has suffered. Renee Good left behind three children; Becca is raising their youngest, a six-year-old.

“This August, I prepared our son for first grade by myself,” Becca shared. “I bought him new shoes, a backpack, notebooks… everything. I attended Back To School Night alone. Halloween, our son’s favorite holiday, will also feel the loss, as I’ll take him trick or treating without Renee by my side.”