On January 13, 2026, federal officers deployed teargas and other irritants against protesters in Minneapolis amid escalating tensions following the shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. This incident has raised serious concerns regarding the use of force by federal agents and has sparked widespread protests not only in Minneapolis but also in cities such as Los Angeles, Portland, and New York.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced what it described as the largest operation in its history, involving approximately 800 Customs and Border Protection agents and 2,000 ICE officials in the city. This operation coincided with the resignation of several federal prosecutors in Minnesota and Washington, D.C., who protested the Justice Department's decision not to pursue a civil rights investigation into Good's death. The state of Minnesota, along with the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, has filed a lawsuit seeking to suspend these federal operations, arguing that they violate constitutional protections.

Witnesses reported that teargas filled the streets near the site of Good's shooting, causing distress among individuals affected by the chemical agents. Local residents have organized grassroots efforts to monitor the activities of federal agents, using whistles to alert the community to their presence. Brita Anderson, a local resident, expressed concern over the heavily armed agents, suggesting that their actions seemed aimed at intimidation rather than ensuring public safety.

In response to the federal operation, students in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, participated in walkouts to protest the immigration enforcement actions. The lawsuit filed by state officials contends that the DHS's focus on Minnesota, a state known for its progressive stance on immigration, represents an overreach of federal authority.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison characterized the influx of federal agents as a federal invasion, while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey noted the significant disruption to daily life in the city. The DHS has reported over 2,000 arrests in Minnesota since early December and has indicated its intention to continue operations despite ongoing legal challenges.

The Trump administration has defended the actions of the ICE officer involved in Good's shooting, claiming he acted in self-defense, a position that has faced criticism from local leaders. In a related legislative effort, two Democratic lawmakers from Massachusetts have proposed a bill aimed at facilitating civil lawsuits against federal officers accused of civil rights violations, although its chances of passage in the Republican-controlled Congress remain uncertain. Additionally, Wisconsin's lieutenant governor has suggested a ban on civil immigration enforcement in sensitive areas such as courthouses and schools, reflecting the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and enforcement practices.