Vigil in Phoenix Demands Justice After Shooting of Woman by ICE Agent

Community leaders and residents of Phoenix gathered on March 15, 2024, outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office to mourn the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent during an immigration operation in Minneapolis. The incident has ignited demands for accountability and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Participants at the vigil held candles and displayed signs with messages such as “Justice for Renee Nicole Good.” They expressed their solidarity with Good’s family and the Minneapolis community. An organizer addressed the crowd, stating, “We are here to say we are her friend, we are her neighbor, we are her co-organizer, and we are in solidarity with her and the people of Minneapolis.”

According to federal sources, Good was a U.S. citizen and was acting as a legal observer during the operation. Minneapolis city officials have confirmed that she was not the target of any arrest at the time of the shooting. Activist Lexsiri Coronado, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, described the situation as “incredibly unjust,” emphasizing that Good’s death was avoidable.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Kristi Noem, offered a contrasting narrative, claiming that Good was part of a group obstructing agents during their operation. DHS stated that Good attempted to drive her vehicle toward ICE agents, prompting an agent to fire in self-defense. Noem characterized the actions as an “attempt to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents, an act of domestic terrorism.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other local officials have rejected the DHS account, asserting that the shooting was not justified. Many participants at the vigil echoed this sentiment, especially after footage of the incident began to circulate online. One attendee remarked, “I watched the whole video. It wasn’t self-defense. The officers were a few feet away from the vehicle, and she was trying to turn to get out of the way.”

As the community mourned, calls for action intensified. One speaker declared, “We are shaken, but we are not broken,” followed by chants of, “We want justice. We want peace. We want ICE off our streets.” Protesters called for accountability from all officials involved and urged for congressional oversight to halt what they described as dangerous enforcement practices.

The vigil in Phoenix was part of a broader wave of demonstrations, with similar events occurring in cities like Seattle and New York City. Activists have emphasized the need for collective action against the ongoing immigration crackdown, stating, “It’s going to take the people united to defeat this crackdown from the Trump administration.”

As the investigation into Good’s death continues, the community remains committed to seeking justice and spotlighting the implications of immigration enforcement practices across the United States.